Public opinions about alcoholism and its treatment

Survey respondents' views about alcoholism as an illness, support for treatment, treatment recommendation and stigma surrounding alcoholics are examined. Subjects (N = 482) comprise a random sample of the population of Contra Costa County, California. About 91% of the respondents agree with the notion that alcoholism is an illness, but 40% also agree that alcoholics drink because they want to. More women than men support the idea that to recover alcoholics will have to quit drinking forever. The contrary is true of the idea of controlled drinking. Education and income are negatively associated with items on loss of control and controlled drinking. Respondents who have had their lives deeply affected by an alcoholic and those who report a drinking problem of their own do not differ in their opinions about alcoholism from those who do not have these characteristics. Alcoholics Anonymous is the most common form of treatment recommended by the respondents. In general, results show considerable support for treatment as well as ambivalence regarding the disease concept.