NCJ Number
48154
Date Published
Unknown
Length
15 pages
Annotation
ATTITUDES TOWARD WOMEN, CLIENTS' PERCEPTIONS OF THEIR PROBLEMS, AND STAFF MEMBERS' PERCEPTIONS OF CLIENTS ARE EXAMINED IN A STUDY OF 25 STAFF MEMBERS AND 185 CLIENTS OF A NEWARK, N.J., METHADONE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM.
Abstract
STUDY SUBJECTS INCLUDED 8 MALE AND 17 FEMALE STAFF MEMBERS AND 129 MALE AND 56 FEMALES CLIENTS. QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSES ARE USED TO EXAMINE STAFF MEMBERS' ATTITUDES TOWARD WOMEN AND DIFFERENCES IN THE PERCEPTIONS OF CLIENTS AND STAFF. STAFF MEMBERS TEND TO BELIEVE THAT MOST MEN ENTER TREATMENT BECAUSE THEY ARE COERCED BY LEGAL PRESSURES, BUT THAT WOMEN ENTER TREATMENT TO ESCAPE THE PROBLEMS OF STREET LIFE. IN FACT, NEARLY THE SAME PERCENTAGES OF WOMEN AND MEN ENTERED TREATMENT THROUGH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. WHEREAS CLIENTS VIEW THEIR PROBLEMS AS THOSE THAT AFFLICT THE POPULATION IN GENERAL, STAFF MEMBERS INSIST THAT THE CLIENTS' PROBLEMS ARE SPECIFIC TO THE EX-ADDICT OR MAINTENANCE STATUS. FEMALE CLIENTS COMPLAIN OF MORE PROBLEMS THAN DO MALE CLIENTS. THE PROBLEMS CITED BY FEMALES ARE OF BOTH A FINANCIAL/VOCATIONAL AND INTERPERSONAL/PSYCHOLOGICAL NATURE AND REFLECT PROBLEMS FACED BY MANY WOMEN IN SOCIETY. STAFF MEMBERS, THOUGH PREDOMINANTLY FEMALE AND LIBERAL IN THEIR ATTITUDES ABOUT WOMEN'S RIGHTS AND ROLES, ARE LESS PERCEPTIVE ABOUT THEIR FEMALE CLIENTS THAN THEY ARE ABOUT THEIR MALE CLIENTS. IMPLICATIONS OF THESE AND OTHER FINDINGS ARE DISCUSSED. SUPPORTING DATA AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE INCLUDED. (LKM)