Residential treatment for women: Behavioral and psychological outcomes

Treatment outcomes are reported for a therapeutic community for women which provided substance abuse treatment. The 83 residents had a mean age of 28.3 years. Overall, the women had long histories of substance abuse and criminal activity, and high levels of psychological disturbance. Their main drug of choice was cocaine and crack. Differences between women with and without children during treatment were examined. Women without their children were older, more often white, had more severe drug and crime histories, showed more signs of psychological disturbance, and were more likely to use sedative type drugs. Major 6 and 12 month post treatment improvements included increases in employment and decreases in criminality, substance abuse, and psychological disturbance. Women who remained over 3 months in treatment were significantly more likely to be employed and less likely to commit crimes or use drugs at 6 and 12 months post treatment. Remaining in treatment was also related to decreases in psychopathology. Similar outcomes were found for women who had their children with them during treatment.