Recovery from alcohol problems with and without treatment

Prevalence in two population surveys

Bibliographic Data

ID11033748
AuthorsLinda C Sobell (0000-0001-7705-3993), John A Cunningham (0000-0002-0668-5982, York University), Mark B Sobell (0000-0001-6678-5742, York University)
Year1996
Volume86
Issue7
Pages966-972
Publication date1996-07-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Journal of Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0090-0036 • E-ISSN: 1541-0048
PublisherAmerican Public Health Association (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.2105/ajph.86.7.966
PMID8669520
OpenAlexW2051317063
LanguageEN
Citations received48
References cited12

OBJECTIVES. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of recovery from alcohol problems with and without treatment, including whether such recoveries involved abstinence or moderate drinking. METHODS. Data from two surveys of randomly selected adults in the general population were analyzed. Random-digit dialing was used to conduct telephone interviews with 11,634 and 1034 respondents. Respondents 20 years of age or older were categorized on the basis of drinking status and history. RESULTS. Both surveys found that most individuals (77.5% and 77.7%) who had recovered from an alcohol problem for 1 year or more did so without help or treatment. A sizable percentage (38% and 63%) also reported drinking moderately after resolving their problem. CONCLUSIONS. These two surveys are among the first to report prevalence rates for recovery from alcohol problems for treated and untreated individuals and for moderation and abstinence outcomes

Abstinence · Alcohol · Environmental health · Moderation · Population · Psychiatry · Random digit dialing · Alcohol Consumption and Health Effects · Alcoholism and Thiamine Deficiency · Demography · Medicine · Psychology · Social Psychology · Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes