Variation in alcoholism treatment orientation: differential impact upon specific subpopulations

Treatment programs across the State of New York were studied to determine the differential impact of treatment orientations upon various types of alcoholism clients. 1340 patients from 17 alcoholism treatment programs were treated and followed up 3 and 8 months after treatment. The majority of the clients were categorized as either Behaviorally Impaired Drinkers (n = 205) or Alcoholics (n = 814). Each of the treatment programs were classified according to either Peer Group, Rehabilitation Professional, or Medical Orientations. Three different outcome measures were examined: abstinence, amount of alcohol consumed at follow-up, and improvement (life and drinking) at follow-up. The generalizable conclusions were that females had significantly better outcome (78% abstinent) when treated according to a medical orientation. Male Behaviorally Impaired Drinkers had better outcomes when treated in Rehabilitation Professional Orientation (74% abstinent) and male alcoholics had the best outcome in Peer Group (60% abstinent), although male alcoholics achieved similar abstinence rates in Medical (59.5%) and Rehabilitation (55%) orientations.