A comparison of women seeking drug and alcohol treatment in a specialist women's and two traditional mixed-sex treatment services

Br J Addict. 1992 Sep;87(9):1293-302. doi: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.1992.tb02738.x.

Abstract

The paucity of research on the treatment needs of women with substance abuse problems has been a serious impediment to the development of empirically validated treatment programmes. Women continue to be seriously under-represented as research subjects and clients of treatment services. This study compares the characteristics of 80 women attending a specialist women's treatment service with those of eighty women attending two traditional mixed-sex treatment agencies. Women attending a gender-sensitive service were significantly more likely to have dependent children, to be lesbian, to have a maternal history for drug or alcohol problems and to have suffered sexual abuse in childhood. These results suggest that gender-sensitive treatment services may be recruiting women who might not otherwise have sought treatment for their substance dependence problems.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Alcoholism / psychology
  • Alcoholism / rehabilitation*
  • Australia
  • Child
  • Child Abuse, Sexual / psychology
  • Child Abuse, Sexual / rehabilitation
  • Female
  • Gender Identity*
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Patient Care Team
  • Personality Development
  • Sexual Harassment / prevention & control
  • Social Environment*
  • Substance Abuse Treatment Centers