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Do Drinking Experiments have a Negative Effect on Alcoholics’ Recovery?
Author(s) -
LØSBERG TOR,
LABERG JON CHRISTIAN,
ANDRESEN SVERRE,
LARSEN GUNNAR
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
british journal of addiction
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.424
H-Index - 193
eISSN - 1360-0443
pISSN - 0952-0481
DOI - 10.1111/j.1360-0443.1988.tb02557.x
Subject(s) - alcohol consumption , psychology , consumption (sociology) , clinical psychology , alcohol , medicine , social science , sociology , biochemistry , chemistry
Summary A representative sample of 14 male alcoholics who participated in an experimental drinking study were interviewed 1 year after discharge. Four subjects were abstinent, six were significantly improved and four were unimproved. At follow‐up, average amount consumed was significantly reduced from 96.5 to 44.8 Standard Units (SU)/week; consumption had been halved. In a control group one subject was abstinent, seven were significantly improved, and none were unimproved. However, six experimental and 12 control subjects were not interviewed. Reduced alcohol consumption was correlated with improved social and psychological adjustment. Despite missing subjects, data suggest that participation in drinking experiments did not have negative effects on alcoholics’ subsequent alcohol consumption or social and psychological adjustment.