CHARACTERISTICS OF ADMISSIONS TO RESIDENTIAL DRUG-TREATMENT AGENCIES IN NEW-SOUTH-WALES, 1988-92 .2. ALCOHOL-PROBLEMS

The Clients at Residential Agencies (CARA) database of the New South W ales Drug and Alcohol Directorate was analysed for trends in admission s of clients with alcohol problems over the years 1988-92. There were no changes in the mean age and sex ratio of admissions, with the treat ment population in all years predominantly males in their mid-thirties . There was a decrease in the proportion of clients who were employed full-time (25.1-16.4%), and an increase in admissions with criminal hi stories (45.7-59.3%). More than half of admissions in all years had al cohol problems of greater then 10 years' standing. The percentage of p eople who had never been in treatment before decreased from 44.4% in 1 988 to 18.7% in 1992.