Reflections on the treatment process by nonabstinent alcoholics

This study reports on the subjective evaluations of treatment by 162 patients who had been treated and discharged with staff approval at Hazelden Rehabilitation Center. At 2 years following treatment, these patients were asked to comment on what they considered the most important aspects of their treatment experience. Four principal groupings of comments emerged as being most important: (1) Formal Hazelden activities, i.e., lectures, counseling; (2) Inner-directed learning, i.e., understanding, insight; (3) Informal Hazelden activities, i.e., personal friendships, fellowship; and (4) General learning, i.e., effect of alcohol on mind and body. The implications of these findings are discussed in terms of the utility of evaluating treatment effectiveness through the subjective judgments of the treated patients.