COURT-PROBATED ALCOHOLIC AND OUTPATIENT TREATMENT ATTRITION

• NCJ Number: 49854
• Journal: British Journal of Addiction Volume: 72 Dated: (MARCH 1977) Pages: 23-30
• Author(s): J M BRANDSMA; M C MAULTSBY; R WELSH; S HELLER
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 8 pages
• Grant Number(s): 1,R18 MH 23255-01
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Agriculture
• Corporate Author: Longman Group Limited
• Sale Source: University of Kentucky
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

DATA WERE COLLECTED ON PATIENT SELECTION, SCREENING PROCEDURES, AND PROGRAM ATTENDANCE TO DETERMINE THE EFFECTS OF COURT PROBATION ON 168 ALCOHOLIC SUBJECTS.

Abstract

IN THIS STUDY CHRONIC MALE ALCOHOLICS AGED 25-50, 73 PERCENT OF WHOM CHOSE TREATMENT TO A POSSIBLE JAIL SENTENCE, WERE SCREENED FOR EMOTIONAL OR ORGANIC DYSFUNCTION AND FOR LOW INTELLIGENCE. REJECTED AS PATHOLOGIC WERE 85 PERSONS, AND THE REMAINING 83 (49 PERCENT) WERE SELECTED FOR VARIOUS TREATMENTS FOR ALCOHOLISM. THERE WAS A HIGH ATTRITION RATE AMONG THE ALCOHOLIC PROBATIONERS ACCEPTED FOR TREATMENT. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO INDUCE THEM TO COMPLETE THE BATTERY OF TESTS ADMINISTERED AFTER SCREENING (32 PERCENT DID NOT COMPLETE THE TESTS) AND EVEN MORE DIFFICULT TO CONVINCE THE TESTED MEN TO ATTEND THE FIRST TREATMENT SESSION. BOTH THE PROBATIONERS AND VOLUNTEER SUBJECTS SHOWED AN UNWILLINGNESS TO ATTEND TREATMENT SESSIONS; ONLY 17 PERCENT ATTENDED THREE SESSIONS OR MORE. AN INTENSIVE FOLLOWUP WAS INITIATED TO DETERMINE WHY SUBJECTS WERE NOT PARTICIPATING IN TREATMENT. IT WAS FOUND THAT 51 PERCENT OF THE NONATTENDING SUBJECTS HAD MOVED, LEAVING NO FORWARDING ADDRESS. ANOTHER 26 PERCENT SIMPLY REFUSED TO ENTER OR RETURN TO TREATMENT. THE THREAT OF A JAIL SENTENCE WAS INEFFECTIVE IN INCREASING TREATMENT ATTENDANCE, ALTHOUGH SUBJECTS MAY HAVE BEEN AWARE THAT JUDGES WOULD NOT ENFORCE JAIL SENTENCES FOR NONATTENDANCE. FINDINGS SUGGEST THAT ALCOHOLICS WHO HAVE STABLE COMMUNITY TIES RESPOND MORE FAVORABLY TO THE THREAT OF JAIL IF THE THREAT IS CARRIED OUT EFFECTIVELY. THE DATA SUGGEST THAT INTENSIVE SOCIAL WORK ACTIVITY IN THE FORM OF FOLLOWUP FOR SUBJECTS POSSESSING CHARACTERISTICS SIMILAR TO THOSE OF THE SAMPLE IS A WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY. THE DATA ALSO SUGGEST THAT ALCOHOLICS AT THE UPPER AND LOWER EXTREMES OF THE ALCOHOL-INDUCED DISFUNCTION RESPOND BEST TO OUTPATIENT TREATMENT. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT NONPUNITIVE DETOXIFICATION FACILITIES BE ESTABLISHED FOR THOSE PERSONS WHOSE ONLY OFFENSE IS SIMPLE ACUTE DRUNKENNESS. THE DATA ARE PRESENTED IN TABLES, AND REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (KJM)