A Comparative Review of Arizona’s Alcohol Treatment Centers for Midlife Adults

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), or colloquial alcoholism, is used to identify an abnormality in drinking behaviors that hinder an individual from working, engaging in social activities, and health. The classification of alcohol abuse is determined by how frequently an individual drinks, the interference with daily activity, and the quantity of consumption. Concerning age, the frequency of midlife adults (ages thirty and older) with AUD symptoms is increasing to more than twice that of the general population (Patrick et al., 2023). The primary focus of this research is to analyze existing treatment options in Arizona, identify gaps within the treatments, and recommend a treatment option that fills the gaps for midlife adults. The study included a variety of research analyzing the root causes of Alcohol Use Disorder, including AUD in the context of Arizona, parental impact of unhealthy alcohol consumption, AUD in people of color, and stigma surrounding treatment. The study's methods involved a qualitative comparative analysis reviewing six current treatment facilities ranging from inpatient to outpatient across the Phoenix area, except one location based in Chandler. The treatment plans in the programs were then compared to each other to identify a trend in treatment effectiveness and gaps that might interfere with the retention rate. The study's results revealed that Arizona's current treatment options, both inpatient and outpatient, are not long enough to enable long-term recovery post-treatment. The lack of customizability in the age range results in a disconnection between existing treatment and retention rates.