Citation

Grella CE, Scott CK, Foss MA, Joshi V, Hser YI. Eval. Program Plann. 2003; 26(3): 297-310.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/S0149-7189(03)00034-X

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Gender differences in the characteristics of individuals entering drug treatment and their post-treatment substance use were examined among 904 individuals, the majority of whom were female (63%) and predominantly African American (93%), who were admitted into the Chicago Target Cities Project. Bivariate relationships were examined in background characteristics, addiction and treatment career parameters, family and social relationships, psychosocial functioning, and treatment/social interventions received. Path analysis was used to determine the predictors of drug/alcohol use at 6- and 24-months following intake at a central referral agency, by developing separate path models for males and females. Drug/alcohol use was significantly reduced for men and women at 6- and 24-months, dropping by about 50% for both. Women had more episodes of subsequent treatment and men had higher rates of incarceration during the follow-up periods. The path analyses showed that at 6-months following intake, living with someone with a drug/alcohol problem was related to higher rates of drug/alcohol use for women, but not for men. For both men and women, psychological distress was related to higher levels of substance use at the 6-month follow-up, whereas having an improved living situation and participating in 12-step groups were related to lower levels of use at both follow-up points. The findings suggest that, although there are some similarities in the factors related to recovery for both men and women, women are more vulnerable to relapse because of having substance-using partners.