Private Hospital Alcoholic Patients and the Changing Conception of the "Typical" Alcoholic

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Abstract
The impression that the "typical" alcoholic is characterized by a low degree of marital and occupational stability has been widely held and was supported by 1942 and 1944 studies of arrested inebriates and alcoholics with psychosis. The present study of male alcoholic patients at the Shadel Hospital, Seattle, Washington, A private hospital devoted exclusively to the treatment of alcoholics, revealed a relatively high degree of marital and occupational stability: for example, 68.9% married and living with sprouse, and 95.3% employed. As the 3d major study of large alcoholic populations showing a relatively high degree of marital and occupational stability, a firm base has been laid for the view that the majority of the 4,589,000 alcoholics in the U.S.A (1953) are persons who are still able to present a picture of considerable social, marital and occupational stability[long dash]and, conversely, are hidden from general recognition by their failure to be as disorganized as the old stereotype would suggest. The implications of this conclusion are far-reaching, suggesting a substantial refocusing of attention and effort on the part of rehabilitators, researchers, and educators concerned with the problem of alcoholism.

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