NCJ Number
160662
Date Published
1994
Length
10 pages
Annotation
Creating treatment groups that are exclusively female and that address the unique needs of women will give female alcoholics a better chance of conquering their addiction.
Abstract
Through Federal block grants, funds have been appropriated to the States to improve women's services in traditional alcohol/drug programs. This paper describes a qualitative case study of one of these programs, the Prairie Center Intensive Outpatient Program for Women (IOP) in Champaign, Ill. Based on staff interviews, observations of staff meetings and group and family therapy sessions, as well as perusal of case records and policy standards, data were collected to describe and illuminate significant themes of the workings of a new concept in women's treatment. The focus of treatment is on addiction and recovery, from a female perspective, as well as women's issues related to daily living. Modalities include substance abuse and 12-step counseling and education; individual, group, children, and family therapy; special women's issue groups (sobriety and recovery, feelings, spirituality, sexuality, domestic violence, physical and sexual abuse counseling, stress management value clarification, assertiveness training, and self-esteem), AIDS and drug education forums, and parenting classes. Community resources are obtained to assist with gynecological problems, financial aid, housing, job procurement, and other needs. This study found that beneficial effects were achieved through the program; the benefits are listed in this paper. The author proposes that the ideal intervention for many women would be a completion of a woman's program prior to attending mixed-gender groups and aftercare. Given the relatively few women's programs currently operating throughout the country, more women's programs should be funded and implemented.