Sociopsychiatric Treatment of Alcoholism in an Urban Ghetto
SHELDON ZIMBERG M.D.1,
HENRY LIPSCOMB M.S.W., , and
ELIZABETH B. DAVIS M.D.
1 Deputy Director, Rockland County Community Mental Health Center, Pomona, N.Y. 10970
A day care program at the Harlem Hospital Center alcoholism unit provided an alcohol-free environment and an opportunity for patients to socialize and develop interpersonal skills as well as to deal with their low selfesteem through the use of group therapy, Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, remedial instruction, and occupational therapy. Recovered alcoholics were employed as staff members and proved to be very effective. A study after one year showed that 55 percent of the patients had been able to achieve significant involvement in the program and about one-third had gone on to employment or training.
