Abstract.  The article investigates the emergence of a phenomenon new to post-communist societies - the sociodemographic group of "unattached males." This group constitutes a growing number of young males with poor skills and education who 1) detach themselves from the labor force even in the presence of jobs, 2) are not marrying, and 3) are increasingly plagued by a variety of social pathologies and health problems. These pathologies include crime, alcoholism, drug abuse and depression that, in turn, contribute to this group’s silent withdrawal from society. Reintegration of these unattached males represents a significant issue for social policy and potential focus for considerable social work practice.