title: Heroin users: the need for improved treatment for incarcerated women.
abstract: This paper addresses the use of drugs, specifically heroin, by women. While women's rate of incarceration in the nation have dramatically increased, tripling in the last decade, prisons have not kept pace with the growth of the number of women in prison and the need for drug treatment and recovery for this population. This paper examines one programmatic effort to provide services to this most vulnerable population in the state of Illinois. The continuum of care model is considered in light of the challenges of high recidivism rates, particularly in the state of Illinois. It identifies a need for more effective evidence-based services at the state level for prison inmates before and after discharge. Effective program evaluation has not been a priority in some states, and perhaps Illinois correction is prototypical. More effective intervention may require more community involvement post-release for ex-offenders. Barriers to healthcare, employment and housing, are just as evident with female drug offenders as in the male population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Work and Human Services, Lewis University, Romeoville, Illinois 60446-2200, USA. hortonar@lewisu.edu
authors.forename: Arthur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Horton
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000208:ethnology; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007087:Illinois; D008691:Methadone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011329:Prisoners / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011330:Prisons / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D017211:Treatment Failure; D014481:United States; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016387:Women's Health; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D008691:Methadone