Abstract
J. Storbjörk: Who is in compulsory treatment? Charasteristics for compulsory treated and voluntary treated persons misusing alcohol and drugs
The article studies what characterized those committed to compulsory treatment (CT) according to the Care of Alcoholics, Drug abusers and Abusers of Volatile Solvents (Special Provision) Act as compared to those in voluntary treatment in Stockholm County 2001–2002. The aim is to analyze who is in CT by studying which client characteristics (sex, age, drug of choice, consumption, route of administration, social situation, physical health, incl. municipality) are associated with CT. Responses from 361 CT-clients who were interviewed with DOK (Documentation of Clients) are compared to comparable responses from 1772 clients in voluntary treatment from the study Women and Men in Swedish Alcohol and Drug Treatment. Bivariate and multivariate analyses show that the two groups differ significantly in many respects. Clients in CT are younger, report more frequent consumption of their main drug of choice and an inferior social situation (housing, livelihood). An analysis of interaction terms shows that old alcohol misusers are less likely to be in CT than young drug misusers. Women are not more likely to be in CT than men. However, CT was more often used for women, but not for men, with children under the age of 18 or who were living with another misuser.
