Alcoholism, Alcoholics Anonymous attendance, and outcome in a prison system

The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between attendance at meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and follow-up status in a sample of prison inmates. Subjects (N = 102) were administered three self-report measures of alcoholism: the MAST, CAGE, and Rosett Quantity-Frequency tests. AA attendance during incarceration was recorded. One-year follow-up status, ranging from transfer to a more secure facility to discharge from the prison system, was used as an outcome indicator. ResuLts revealed that 56% of the subjects met the criteria for alcoholism on at least one measure, and that scores on the alcoholism measures were significantly correlated with AA attendance. Thus, the most severe alcoholics were the best AA attenders. The hypothesis that greater AA attendance would predict follow-up outcome was not confirmed. However, the extent of drinking reported prior to admission (average alcohol quantity per week) was related to security status at 1-year follow-up. The greater the drinking quantity, the more likely the inmate was to be in a more secure facility. Possible explanations for the findings and the need for a longer follow-up period are discussed.