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A behaviorally oriented residential treatment for drinking problems was evaluated. One year follow-up after admission to a treatment program that offers a goal choice option of controlled drinking yielded 27% success rate, 35% equivocal and 38% failures based on self-reported alcohol consumption. Treatment outcome was similar to other programs. Factors associated with poor prognosis included previous hospitalization for the problem, habitual drinking with company and abnormal blood profile prior to treatment. Sociodemographic factors have lesser prognostic value.

The current study aimed to investigate the range of influences on people's decisions to seek alcohol treatment and develop a model of treatment-seeking based on participants' accounts. Understanding these influences could inform clinical practice and aid development of effective motivational interventions for the majority of people with alcohol problems who avoid or delay seeking treatment. Individual, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 30 participants who had been referred to an NHS alcohol treatment unit. To ensure, a broad range of treatment-seekers was investigated; participants were recruited according to the principles of maximum variation sampling whereby we interviewed participants at varying stages of engagement. Verbatim transcripts of the interviews were analysed within a thematic analytic framework. Contrary to expectations participants had not worked up gradually to seek help. Rather, participants described the decision to seek treatment as sudden and prompted by events that mirrored the extent of their drinking. Participants described their response to these mirroring events as both passive and autonomous. Furthermore, a window of opportunity was initiated by these events, during which participants were responsive to suggestions to make changes to their drinking and practitioners could influence the treatment-seeking process. This evidence is inconsistent with influential models of treatment-seeking behaviour. It suggests an alternative view that treatment-seeking is externally influenced and the result of a step-wise rather than gradual process. The findings indicate how practitioners might encourage treatment-seeking, particularly for participants who may not appear ready to change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Annual increases in indices which reflect the extent of alcohol and drug abuse in society result in a considerable cost to industry. Nurses as a professional group have not generally been identified as having a significantly high incidence of staff with problems of alcohol or drug abuse. although there is some evidence that they are more likely than other workers to attend treatment agencies. The role of nurse management in the early recognition and handling of problems can be vital and training material has been developed to encourage appropriate involvement. A brief description and preliminary evaluation of management training is given. Guidelines and policies which clarify the roles of management. trade unions, occupational health and specialist treatment agencies should facilitate the rehabilitation of the nurse with a drink or drug problem and, in doing so. have potential economic as well as personal benefit to the parties involved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]