THE SAMPLE COMPRISED ALL DOCUMENTED FIRST ADMISSIONS TO DETOXICATION CENTERS IN TORONTO AND HAMILTON DURING A 4-MONTH PERIOD. MOST WERE WHITE, BETWEEN THE AGES OF 25 AND 65 YEARS, WITH A MEAN EDUCATIONAL LEVEL OF GRADE 10. ALMOST HALF HAD NO FIXED PLACE OF RESIDENCE, 82 PERCENT REPORTED HEAVY DAILY DRINKING, AND MORE THAN HALF STAYED IN THE DETOXICATION UNIT FOR 5 OR MORE DAYS PRIOR TO DISCHARGE. AT 6-MONTH FOLLOWUP IT WAS FOUND THAT 245 MEN (46.9 PERCENT) HAD BEEN ARRESTED BY THE POLICE. OF THE 1,129 CHARGES BROUGHT, 1,062 WERE FOR ALCOHOL-RELATED OFFENSES. ONLY 13 PERCENT OF THESE MEN WERE TAKEN TO DETOXICATION CENTERS; THE MAJORITY WERE PROCESSED BY THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND 63 PERCENT WERE HELD IN JAIL FOR A PERIOD. THE STUDY ALSO FOUND THAT 270 MEN (52 PERCENT) HAD BEEN ADMITTED TO A DETOXICATION CENTER AT LEAST ONE MORE TIME, 119 MEN (23 PERCENT) HAD BEEN ADMITTED TO ONE OR MORE OUTPATIENT PROGRAMS, AND 195 MEN (37.4 PERCENT) HAD BEEN ADMITTED TO ONE OR MORE RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS. MANY OF THESE MEN HAD BEEN INVOLVED WITH MORE THAN ONE HEALTH CARE AGENCY. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THE DETOXICATION CENTERS ARE NOT HAVING A MAJOR REHABILITATIVE IMPACT. REFERENCES AND TABLES ARE INCLUDED. (GLR)