Abstract
This exploratory and quantitative study presents a model of treatment success of the nation's oldest and largest chemical dependency treatment provider for the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) population. The main purpose is to examine the potential ability of the predictor variables’ degree of affiliation with Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), the severity of chemical use, the strength of a higher power relationship, attitudes about sexual orientation, and length of time in treatment to predict length of time clean and sober.
The proposed model demonstrated the ability to explain 29% of the variance in time clean and sober. Results lend tentative support for culturally competent treatment and include specific intervention recommendations for professionals, including social workers, chemical dependency counselors, and therapists.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors thank The Pride Institute, Executive Director, Marty Perry, and other treatment facility directors and staff members, and, most importantly, the clients from facilities from across the country who graciously participated in this project. Special appreciation goes out to the clients from the Minnesota Pride facility who allowed the first author to observe them throughout several days of residential treatment.