ABSTINENCE VERSUS CONTROLLED DRINKING - ALTERNATIVE TREATMENT PERSPECTIVES FOR PROBLEM DRINKING OFFENDERS

• NCJ Number: 17782
• Author(s): D D GOODRICK; G L VIGDAL
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 8 pages
• Grant Number(s): 73-03-01-13; 74-03-05-03
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; Not Available Through National Institute of Justice/NCJRS Document Loan Program
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PAPER PRESENTED AT THE NORTH AMERICAN CONGRESS ON ALCOHOL AND DRUG PROBLEMS, SAN FRANCISCO, DECEMBER 1974.

Annotation

THE AUTHOR MAINTAINS THAT A BLANKET ADVOCACY OF ABSTINENCE AS TREATMENT FOR PROBLEM DRINKER OFFENDERS IS UNREALISTIC AND SEES FORTH ARGUMENTS FOR THE FEASIBILITY OF 'CONTROLLED DRINKING' AS A TREATMENT PROGRAM.

Abstract

CONTROLLED DRINKING IS DEFINED AS DRINKING OCCASIONS IN WHICH SIX OUNCES OR LESS OF 86-PROOF LIQUOR OR ITS EQUIVALENT IS CONSUMED. THE TRADITIONAL CATEGORIZATION OF PROBLEM DRINKERS (INCONSEQUENTIAL DRINKERS VERSUS CHRONIC ALCOHOLICS) IS REJECTED BY THE AUTHOR IN FAVOR OF A DIFFERENT CLASSIFICATION - ALCOHOLIC PERSONS VERSUS ALCOHOL ABUSERS, THE BEHAVIOR OF EACH TYPE OF PROBLEM DRINKING OFFENDER ARE DESCRIBED AND THE RAMIFICATIONS OF THIS CLASSIFICATION FOR THE CONTRASTING TREATMENT GOALS OF ABSTINENCE (TRADITIONALLY COUNSELED FOR PROBLEM DRINKING OFFENDERS) AND CONTROLLED DRINKING ARE DISCUSSED. ALSO DESCRIBED IS AN EDUCATION AND TREATMENT PROGRAM FOR PROBLEM DRINKING OFFENDERS (PROBLEM DRINKING PROJECT) IMPLEMENTED BY THE WISCONSIN DIVISION OF CORRECTIONS, THIS VOLUNTARY, PRE-RELEASE PROJECT FOR SOON TO BE PAROLED OFFENDERS INCLUDES VOLUNTARY AFTERCARE FOR PROBLEM DRINKING AND INDIVIDUALIZED TREATMENT PROGRAMMING.