Evaluation of a Salvation Army alcoholism treatment program.

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Abstract
The functioning of 97 skid row alcoholics (men; 96% aged over 40) was evaluated at admission to a Salvation Army (S.A.) alcoholism program and 6 mo. after discharge. The program emphasized milieu therapy, including therapy groups, house meetings, recreational activities, Alcoholics Anonymous, educational films, Sunday worship and religious counseling: there was also vocational training (printing and electronics) and job placement. The median stay was 63 days, though the patients are encouraged to stay 6 mo. Of the 9 outcome criteria, 7 showed significant (P < .01) improvement, including 3 concerned with drinking and those measuring behavioral, occupational and physical, but not social, functioning. The patients who more actively participated in the program had a better (P < .05) outcome than their more passive counterparts on 4 criteria (abstinence during the past mo. in 76.9 vs. 41.7%, and few if any drinking-related physical symptoms in 73.1 vs. 37.5%). Those who dropped out tended to show poorer functioning than the rest on most but not all outcome criteria. The treatment outcome compared favorably with a halfway house and a hospital-based program with similar patient populations. The S.A. program was a successful and cost-effective means of treating alcoholics.

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