COURT-ORDERED ALCOHOL TREATMENT FOR PATIENTS WITH MEDICAL PROBLEMS

The authors performed a retrospective analysis of medical records and death certificates for 99 consecutive patients who had an alcohol-rela ted medical problem that prompted a petition for court-ordered alcohol treatment. Ninety percent voluntarily participated in initial evaluat ion. Two appeared to be alcohol-free 6 months after treatment. The num ber of alcohol-related hospital visits was not different before and af ter intervention. Death certificates revealed that at least 12% of the patients had died within 2 years of the petition. Court-ordered alcoh ol treatment for patients for serious medical sequelae of alcoholism d oes not appear to be successful.