Clergy Services a Popular Choice for the Alcohol Dependent

An individual suffering with an alcohol problem is not always anxious to share the trappings of the situation with others. Shame and guilt often drive the desire to mask the problem or deny it exists at all.

In a recent Science Daily release, however, those suffering with an alcohol problem are finding it easier to confide in a member of the clergy. Researchers at the University of Michigan Health System and Saint Louis University studied 1,910 people dealing with alcohol-related problems and found that 14.7 percent used clergy services.

A study of this group of people also revealed that the majority who had used clergy services also used professional services at some point. Only 0.5 percent of the 14.7 percent using clergy services used them exclusively for alcohol use-related problems.

Professional services tend to be used more commonly than other offerings, yet the findings from this survey suggest that clergy services are important as a part of the overall system of care for those suffering from alcohol-related problems.

There were certain factors identified by researchers as being associated with an increased likelihood of the use of clergy services. These factors included being black, aged 35-54 years, possessing a lifetime history of dependence on alcohol, major depressive disorder and personality disorder.

Researchers suggest that the use of clergy services may be a reflection of other issues for the individual. These issues may include legal, occupational and/or social problems as a result of their consumption of alcohol. In addition, these individuals may be more likely than others to enter treatment by way of the legal system, social services or assistance programs provided by employers.