Antabuse in a Clinic Program

Abstract

The patients who go into the Antabuse program at the County Hospital in Racine have not responded to other kinds of treatment for problem drinking. Many are not alcoholics, but have character disorders with problem drinking. They do not seem to want help, and they have been in and out of hospitals and jails. All patients admitted to the inebriate program in the county hospital are court committed, voluntarily or involuntarily. After psychiatric and physical examination, about one third of these patients go into the Antabuse program. Antabuse is a crutch, not complete therapy. However, during a year of sobriety, even though it is enforced, most of our patients develop resources of their own and can make it without the drug. If they wish to continue taking Antabuse on a voluntary basis they may, and quite a few do for a while. We strongly urge Alcoholics Anonymous programs for those persons who seem at all receptive. Our program is not designed or intended for lifetime support. After detoxification, patients who do go on the program are saturated with disulfiram (Antabuse) re-