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Alcoholism treatment with environmental support contracting.
The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse
|January 1, 1984
Summary
Environmental support contracting improved alcoholism rehabilitation for men scoring high on the Environmental Deprivation Scale (EDS). This approach enhanced coping skills and employment outcomes, showing significant benefits over traditional treatment.
Area of Science:
- Addiction Medicine
- Behavioral Psychology
- Social Work
Background:
- Traditional alcoholism rehabilitation programs often lack comprehensive environmental support.
- Environmental factors significantly influence recovery outcomes in male alcoholics.
- High environmental deprivation correlates with maladaptive behaviors in individuals with alcoholism.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate environmental support contracting as an adjunct to traditional inpatient alcoholism treatment.
- To determine if enhanced environmental support improves recovery metrics in male alcoholics.
- To assess the impact of environmental support contracting on maladaptive behaviors and employment.
Main Methods:
- Eighty-eight male alcoholics with high Environmental Deprivation Scale (EDS) scores were randomized into a control group (traditional treatment) and an experimental group (traditional treatment plus environmental support contracting).
- Dependent variables including EDS, Maladaptive Behavior Rating (MBR), hospitalization days, medical visits, and medication counts were assessed pre-treatment and at 3 and 6 months post-treatment.
- Statistical analysis compared outcomes between the two groups, focusing on changes in environmental support and maladaptive behaviors.
Main Results:
- Both groups showed improvement in environmental support and reduced maladaptive behaviors and hospitalization.
- A significant positive correlation was observed between EDS and MBR scores at 3 and 6 months.
- The experimental group demonstrated statistically significant improvements in employment, EDS, and MBR scores at 6 months compared to the control group.
Conclusions:
- Environmental support contracting is a valuable addition to traditional alcoholism treatment regimens.
- This ancillary treatment shows particular benefit in improving employment outcomes for male alcoholics.
- Addressing environmental factors can enhance coping abilities and reduce maladaptive behaviors in individuals undergoing alcoholism rehabilitation.