Table 2 Frequencies of Responses to Questions on Moderate Drinking Goals

Agencies currently offering moderate drinking goals (n = 40 agencies)

38

95.0

Agencies that considered offering moderate drinking goals

1

2.5

Considered it, but decided against it because (n = 2 respondents)

   staff resistance

1

50.0

   Other

1

50.0

For agencies not offering moderate drinking goals (n = 5 respondents)

Intra-agency obstacles

   not appropriate for their clients

2

40.0

   staff resistance

1

20.0

   Other

1

20.0

Extra-agency obstacles

   community resistance/opposition

1

20.0

   Other

1

20.0

   None

1

20.0

Expected benefits of offering moderate drinking goals

   some clients find it more appealing than abstinence goals

1

20.0

   None

1

20.0

For agencies that offer moderate drinking goals (n = 62 respondents)

Reasons for introducing it

   its appropriate for some clients

24

38.7

   abstinence is an unrealistic goal for some clients

11

17.7

   client demand

25

40.3

   empirical evidence supports it

9

14.5

   political pressure from outside the agency

1

1.8

   harm reduction

7

11.3

   Don't know

4

6.5

   Other

30

48.4

Resistance encountered

   a) none

27

43.5

   b) from the staff

7

11.3

   c) from the Board

5

8.1

   d) from the general community

11

17.7

   e) from the AA community

13

21.0

   f) from other addiction agencies

13

21.0

   g) don't know

1

1.6

   h) other

6

9.7

How was it dealt with? (n = 35)

   a) ignored it

3

8.6

   b) gave people time to accept it

7

20.0

   c) through education/information

20

57.1

   d) ran an active PR campaign

1

2.9

   e) don't know

1

2.9

   f) other

13

37.1