PEOPLE WITH PHYSICAL-DISABILITIES ADMITTED TO A RESIDENTIAL ADDICTIONTREATMENT PROGRAM

This exploratory study used data on admissions to a 28-day residential addiction treatment program to explore differences between disabled a nd nondisabled cases with respect to patterns of substance use and oth er characteristics. Relationships between length and type of disabilit y, substance use, and other characteristics were also explored. The fo cus was on cases aged 18 to 65 identified as having physical disabilit ies that limit participation in the work force. The results showed tha t 5.3% of the sample reported disabilities which prevented them from w orking, and a further 8.6% reported that physical disabilities limited their participation in the work force. The results also showed that s elf-identified problems with tranquilizers were more common among the disabled than the nondisabled and that more severely disabled people a re more likely to report attempting suicide and to express the need fo r mental health counseling. Having prescriptions as a main source of d rugs was also more common among females with major disabilities than a mong other groups. Priorities for further research are suggested.