Social Background Variables, Referral Sources and Life Events of Male and Female Alcoholics

Rural state hospital alcoholics (650 males, 74 females) were investigated on a social history inventory. Alcoholics lost social stability as indicated by continuous employment (47.0%) and poor job performance (24.3%). Spouse (32.3%), family (24.3%), court system (38.5%), and law enforcement agency (29.8%) were primarily responsible for the subjects' referral to treatment. The involvement of other community agencies and health professionals in the referral of alcoholics was minimal. Financial (52.5%) and marital problems (39.9%) might be produced by alcoholism. Other events such as the death of a significant other (28.5%), anticipated or realized responsibility (30.8%), and changes associated with aging (18.7%) might precipitate alcoholism. More female than male alcoholics had spouses with a drinking problem (73.9% vs 15.4%), were transported to the hospital from their own or relative's home (71.6% vs 56.4%), were more frequently referred to treatment by a friend (13.5% vs 5.9%), physician (12.2% vs 4.3%), clergy (2.7% vs 0.6%) and county welfare department (14.9% vs 6.5%) and less frequently by law enforcement agency (13.5% vs 31.7%) and court (25.7% vs 40.0%). More female than male alcoholics reported stressful life events which preceded a period of drinking.