Impact of the "Rand report" on alcoholics, treatment personnel and Boston residents.

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Abstract
According to the report, some treated alcoholics returned to normal drinking with no greater risk of relapse than patients who chose abstience. The report''s impact in the Boston [USA] area was assessed through interviews with 244 patients and 62 staff members at 6 alcoholism treatment centers, 174 residents in a random telephone sample, and 44 homeless male alcoholics not in treatment. In the respective groups, 23% of the patients, 74% of the staff, 23% of the residents and 5% of the homeless men said they were aware of the study and its conclusion, and 6, 26, 10 and 2% agreed with it. Of all those interviewed, only 13% of the staff members said that they read at least part of the report; 5 of them changed their treatment practices as a result of the report, mostly by discussing it with patients. The numbers or types of patients seen in treatment did not change since the report appeared. Five patients attempted to drink again as a result of the report, but 4 of these gave other reasons earlier in the interview. The Rand Report influenced the drinking behavior of only a tiny fraction of persons in treatment and members of the general population.

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