Abstract
Data from 23 alcoholism halfway houses are analyzed to assess the relationship of organizational and programmatic variables to clients'' average length of stay. Programs which have more resources, a more complex administrative structure, better staffing and stronger community ties report a shorter average length of stay than do those which lack these characteristics. The discussion focuses on differences in interpretation of a longer stay by an individual alcoholic versus a longer average stay by clients of a residential facility. Conclusions are that longitudinal research of a comparative nature is needed to identify the consequences of a longer vs. shorter average stay for both long- and short-term residents of a given type of facility.

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