Attrition from an Evening Alcohol Rehabilitation Program

In recent years many groups have become interested in the potential cost savings and efficacy of outpatient treatment for chemical dependency. This study was originally conceived to answer questions of both patients and staff concerning graduation and attrition rates in an evening outpatient alcohol treatment program. Of particular interest were gender effects, rates of attrition across two progressive program levels, and whether alcohol-only users and self-initiated clients fared better in treatment than did polysubstance users and patients who were referred by others. Medical records were available for 103 of the 107 treated patients, and of these, 27 remained in the program until graduation. Women were more likely to graduate and remain in the program longer than men. Alcohol users were more likely to graduate than subjects with additional substance use disorders. Graduation rates did not differ significantly between contact initiators and noninitiators; however, the former dropped out of treatment more quickly. The study is an example of the potential use of data obtained from an existing agency data base.