Seeking help for drinking problems from a community-based voluntary agency. Patterns of compliance amongst men and women

Summary A consecutive series of Problem drinkers (n = 112) attending a community-based voluntary agency were followed up over a 6-month period, in order to measure their compliance with treatment. This was assessed by recording time in treatment, number of sessions attended and method of leaving the agency. Particular attention was focussed on source of referral, and women's use of services in a facility which provided female counsellors for women in a non-stigmatized setting. In common with many other treatment agencies attrition rates were high. This was especially true for self-referrals. However, those coming through the usual referral channels attended more frequently. Clients attending from the Courts, hostels and from employers attained the highest rates of compliance. Women were poorly represented amongst these coercive type referrals, perhaps explaining their lower rates of attendance.