title: Diagnosis and treatment of drug and alcohol abuse in women.
abstract: The major reasons why women abuse drugs and alcohol are presented with a focus on societal and psychologic bases. A structured format is provided for eliciting a history while motivating the patient to obtain adequate treatment. A workable treatment contract is presented. A three-stage method of treatment is described, which focuses on the following: (1) achieving abstinence, (2) maintaining abstinence, and (3) achieving sobriety (advanced recovery).
authors.affiliation: Chemical Dependency Services, Capistrano by the Sea Hospital, Dana Point, CA 92629, USA.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kaufman
mesh_terms: D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009042:Motivation; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*