Substance-Involved Women Inmates: Challenges to Providing Effective Treatment

Abstract

This article describes the substance involvement and treatment needs of women in state prisons. Women are a rapidly growing portion of the inmate population, largely due to drug law violations and substance abuse problems. However, few receive comprehensive substance abuse treatment while incarcerated. When treatment is available, it is often not adequate to meet the manifold needs of this population: Poor health, risk of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and HIV, psychological problems, histories of victimization, family responsibilities, and a lack of marketable employment skills greatly complicate their recovery process. Treatment programs for women inmates should be greatly expanded and need to be intensive, comprehensive, and gender specific. Such intensive treatment, especially when combined with aftercare, can reduce recidivism and assist women in becoming contributing members of their families and communities.