Studied 1st admission drug and alcohol dependent patients to a Kuwait psychiatric hospital in 1961-1962 and 1971-1972 to determine the effects of the 1965 prohibition of alcohol. 33 (0.7%) of the total admissions in the 1st interval and 62 (0.8%) in the 2nd were admitted for dependence. The mean age of Ss was 31.0 yrs in the 1st group and was 34.5 yrs in the 2nd, a significant increase. In the 1971-1972 interval, a new group of Ss was found that was dependent on unconventional alcohol substitutes such as vanilla extract and after-shave lotion. It is concluded that religious teachings in themselves are not sufficient deterrents to the use and abuse of alcohol. (1 ref)