title: A randomized experimental study of gender-responsive substance abuse treatment for women in prison.
abstract: This experimental pilot study compared postrelease outcomes for 115 women who participated in prison-based substance abuse treatment. Women were randomized to a gender-responsive treatment (GRT) program using manualized curricula (Helping Women Recover and Beyond Trauma) or a standard prison-based therapeutic community. Data were collected from the participants at prison program entry and 6 and 12 months after release. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted. Results indicate that both groups improved in psychological well-being; however, GRT participants had greater reductions in drug use, were more likely to remain in residential aftercare longer (2.6 vs. 1.8 months, p < .05), and were less likely to have been reincarcerated within 12 months after parole (31% vs. 45%, respectively; a 67% reduction in odds for the experimental group, p < .05). Findings show the beneficial effects of treatment components oriented toward women's needs and support the integration of GRT in prison programs for women.
authors.affiliation: UCLA Integrated Substance Abuse Programs, Los Angeles, CA 90025, USA. nmessina@ucla.edu
authors.forename: Nena
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Messina
authors.forename: Christine E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Grella
authors.forename: Jerry
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cartier
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Torres
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000359:Aftercare; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016387:Women's Health