Characteristics of Successful Alcoholism Treatment Programs for American Workers

This paper examines the question of determining the component characteristics of successful industrial alcoholism treatment programs by analyzing the findings reported in twenty‐four previous studies. The review begins by speaking to methodological problems in comparing reports of treatment outcomes such as comparability of the data measurement problems, and differences in treatment populations. It speaks directly to the importance of coercive and confrontation tactics on the part of management as being necessary to successful identification and referral of problem drinkers in industrial programs. Indeed, the authors conclude that the significance of company identification and referral procedures may play a greater part in rehabilitation than the components of the treatment situation. The paper also describes the unique importance of the industrial setting as having a potentially greater rehabilitative affect than other treatment settings.