The drinking habits of residents of a rehabilitation program with a controlled drinking option: A preliminary report

Abstract

Residents of an alcoholism rehabilitation program with a controlled drinking option were asked to give daily reports on their drinking. Program staff were also asked to report evidence of resident drinking. A comparison of information from these two sources showed, among other things, that residents were generally reluctant to report drinking which was proscribed by the program. Such drinking as was reported varied from isolated, non-problematic, small quantity drinking, to heavy, regular and problem-producing drinking. In general, residents' drinking did not prevent them from work while in residence. The men's reluctance to report proscribed drinking is seen as largely accounted for by the system of fines for intoxication and drinking without rights. It is concluded that it would be premature to recommend the program's drinking policies to other residential programs, but future experimentation is indicated.