Locating Alcoholism Treatment Facilities

Abstract

As a result of federal legislation in the early 1970s, treatment rather than criminal prosecution was to be the norm for public inebriates and alcoholics. The response in more than half the states has been to establish a continuum of alcohol treatment programs offering a comprehensive set of services. This paper examines the spatial pattern of service provision in the state of Oklahoma. Although many new facilities have been established, alcohol treatment programs are over-represented in urban areas. This raises the question of the so-called “inverse care law” in the provision of alcoholism services. Although alcohol consumption is generally higher in urban areas than elsewhere, there is no clear-cut evidence that the prevalence of alcohol- related problems is also higher.