Randomized Clinical Trial of a Therapeutic Community Treatment for Female Inmates: Outcomes at 6 and 12 Months After Prison Release

• NCJ Number: 239746
• Journal: Journal of Addictive Diseases Volume: 31 Issue: 3 Dated: July - September 2012 Pages: 258-269
• Author(s): JoAnn Y. Sacks, Ph.D.; Karen McKendrick, M.P.H.; Zachary Hamilton Ph.D.
• Date Published: July 2012
• Length: 12 pages
• Grant Number(s): 5 R01 DA014370-(01-05)
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute on Drug Abuse
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study assessed the effectiveness of prison therapeutic community substance-abuse treatment for female inmates.

Abstract

This random assignment study compared female offenders (n = 468) with substance use disorders in a prison therapeutic community program with those in a cognitive-behavioral intervention. The study demonstrates that all women benefitted from gender-sensitive prison treatment, but the therapeutic community was more effective in reducing drug use, criminal activity, and exposure to trauma and increasing mental health functioning and time until reincarceration during the year after prison. In addition, the ability to sustain and even improve behavior change after the women leave prison highlights the importance of providing accessible community-based continuity of mental health and substance abuse services during reentry. Abstract published by arrangement with Taylor and Francis.