NCJ Number
61986
Date Published
1979
Length
16 pages
Annotation
AN IDAHO STUDY REPORTS ON EFFECTS THAT DETOXIFICATION CENTER HAS ON A PUBLIC DRUNK, THE INFLUENCES OF MEDICAL AND LEGAL MODELS OF ALCOHOLISM ON PERCEPTION, AND SUGGESTS QUESTIONS FOR FURTHER STUDY.
Abstract
AN EXPLORATORY STUDY CONDUCTED IN SOUTHEASTERN IDAHO SOUGHT TO LEARN ATTITUDES OF DETOXIFICATION CLIENTS BY INTERVIEWING 16 CLIENTS, ELICITING THEIR VIEW ABOUT FACILTIES, APPROACHES, AND PERSONAL SOCIAL SITUATIONS. ONE UNANTICIPATED DIFFICULTIES WERE ENCOUNTERED IN THE STUDY: DEVELOPING A WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH ADMINISTRATORS AT THE TWO CENTERS AND STAFF AND REASSURING THE STAFF AND CLIENTS THAT ALL MATERIAL WOULD BE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL. A FINAL COMPLICATION WAS THE SMALL NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS IN THE STUDY DUE TO WARM WEATHER AND SMALL NUMBER OF CLIENTS AT THE CENTERS. OVER HALF THE CLIENTS HAD BEEN SENT TO THE CENTERS BY COURT ORDER OR FOR SUCCESSIVE DRUNK DRIVING VIOLATIONS. FOUR HAD VOLUNTARILY REFERRED THEMSELVES, AND THE REMAINING WERE BROUGH IN BY FRIENDS OR RELATIVES. ELEVEN HAD NEVER BEEN IN A DETOXIFICATION CENTER, WHILE THIRTEEN HAD SPENT TIME IN DRUNK TANKS. MOST OF THE CLIENTS REPORTED THEMSELVES TO BE HIGHLY COMMITTED TO THE DETOXIFICATION AND AFTERCARE PROGRAM. MANY FELT THAT DESPITE THIS COMMITMENT TO REHABILITATION THEY WERE FACED WITH THE LABEL OF 'DRUNK.' MOST REPORTED THAT THEIR JOBS WERE UNAFFECTED BY A STAY IN THE DETOX CENTERS, PERHAPS BECAUSE MOST WERE UNEMPLOYED. MOST OF THE CLIENTS SAID THAT THEIR FRIENDS WERE HEAVY DRINKERS AND MANY RELATED MARITAL DIFFICULTIES TO DRINKING. THOSE WHO ACCEPTED THE MEDICAL MODEL OF ALCOHOLISM SPOKE OF STAYING SOBER AFTER LEAVING THE CENTER AND ESTABLISHING SUPPORT SYSTEMS ON THE OUTSIDE. THOSE WHO HELD THE LEGAL MODEL SPOKE ONLY OF GETTING BACK INTO SOCIETY. SUGGESTED FURTHER RESEARCH INCLUDES: STUDY ON THE ALCOHOLIC'S IDEOLOGICAL PERCEPTIONS ABOUT ALCOHOL AND DETOXIFICATION, THE EFFECTS OF DETOXIFICATION ON EMPLOYMENT, FRIENDSHIP, SELF ESTEEM, AND FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS; THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE MEDICAL MODEL MIGHT RELIEVE SOME OF THE SOCIAL STIGMA ATTACHED TO THE PUBLIC DRUNK. DIRECT QUOTATIONS FROM CLIENTS ARE INCLUDED. THE REPORT CLOSES WITH COPY OF A DETOXIFICATION SCHEDULE FOR CLIENTS AND BRIEF BIBLIOGRAPHY. (RFC)