Am J Psychiatry 1985; 142:1467-1470
Copyright © 1985 by American Psychiatric Association
Detoxification recidivism among urban American Indian alcoholics
DR Kivlahan, RD Walker, DM Donovan and HD Mischke
Fifty urban American Indians were interviewed during admission to a
free-standing medical detoxification unit. From the year before the
interview through 2 years of follow-up, this sample averaged 44.6
detoxification admissions and 64.1 days in other inpatient treatment and
had no significant change in the number of annual detoxification
admissions. At follow-up all but three subjects reported recent alcohol
dependence symptoms or episodic alcohol abuse. these patients continued to
experience serious alcohol-related problems despite repeated treatment in
both medical detoxification and inpatient rehabilitation settings. These
findings emphasize the need for more innovative and effective alternatives
to the existing revolving door process.
