title: A ten-year follow-up of alcoholic Native Americans in Minnesota.
abstract: In a 10-year follow-up of 45 alcoholic American Indians, 42 (93%) were located. Seven had been abstinent for 2 or more years, 26 still had drinking problems despite repeated treatment, and 9 had died. The authors hypothesize that the absence of stable employment and a stable marriage or family environment reduced the efficacy of treatment efforts in this population. Those who achieved 2 years of abstinence were characterized by stable employment and/or marriage, as well as by stronger interpersonal relationships and less depression than the others. The recovered subjects provided considerable help to other alcoholic persons in addition to serving as positive role models.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy*; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage; D008875:Middle Aged; D008910:Minnesota; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D011581:Psychological Tests