Medical records of 125 geropsychiatric inpatients were reviewed for a pilot study of the prevalence and medical and psychosocial correlates of chemical dependence and/or abuse. Patients were studied in three groups, each corresponding to the phased implementation of a program to enhance staff awareness of these problems. In contrast to patients without chemical dependence/abuse diagnoses, patients with these diagnoses had shorter lengths of stay, a greater number of psychiatric diagnoses, and were more likely to show personality disorder. Inception and implementation of the staff awareness program was associated with finding a significantly greater number of patients with chemical dependence/abuse diagnoses.