Women and Substance Abuse: Critical Issues in Treatment Design

Abstract

The status of women who abuse drugs is briefly reviewed and important considerations for treatment design are proposed. General concerns stress the importance of a well formulated treatment philosophy, encourage treatment of women with varying drug related dependencies together, and advocate the utilization of female professional staff in most instances. Recommended components of treatment include women-only therapy groups, assertion training, social skills training, attention to child-care issues and outreach activities. The status of treatment research and care is assessed and professionals are urged to provide therapeutic alternatives based on the directions suggested by the literature.