Treatment compliance of older alcoholics: an elder-specific approach is superior to "mainstreaming"

A sample of 24 alcoholics (mean age, 58.8 years) treated in typical mixed-age outpatient groups, is compared to a sample of 25 alcoholics (mean age, 60.2 years) treated in special elderly peer groups. Patients treated in the special peer group program remained in treatment significantly longer and were more likely to complete treatment than those treated in mixed-age groups. These findings support the continued development and evaluation of elder-specific treatment approaches for older alcoholics.