“Yes, I've Received Treatment”: What Does This Mean in the Context of Epidemiological Surveys for Alcohol Problems?

Aim: To assess what it means when respondents say they have received treatment on population surveys. Method: Former heavy drinkers recruited through a random digit dialing telephone survey were asked about the type, time, and amount of treatment they had received. Results: When respondents indicated that they had received treatment, it appeared that they had a specific treatment in mind, that they completed the treatment program, and that, for the majority, treatment occurred at roughly the same time as their successful change from heavy drinking. The congruence between age of change and age of treatment use appeared greater among respondents with abstinent versus reduced-drinking recoveries.