An Examination of Addiction Treatment Completion by Gender and Ethnicity

Abstract

The authors examined the discharge status of all clients admitted to an intensive outpatient facility over the course of 1 year, specifically exploring differences based on client gender and ethnicity. The article also argues the need for more culturally sensitive addiction treatment and addresses some alternative approaches.

Predictive Factors of Readiness for Change During Inpatient Treatment

“…Previous research has most typically found no ethnic effects with regards to treatment outcome (Lowman & LeFauve, 2003;Matthews & Lorah, 2005), although one study found that African Americans showed greater postoutpatient treatment abstinence than Hispanics or Whites, with no such effects for an inpatient sample (Tonigan, 2003).…”

Counseling graduate students' multicultural preparation

“…African American women with a dual diagnosis of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and substance abuse are a growing population (Young & Boyd, 2000), yet they are a population not easily engaged in mental health services nor effectively serviced when presenting for treatment (Matthews & Lorah, 2005). The different factors that account for the lack of engagement in mental health services for African American women with these co-occurring issues range from societal influences such as discrimination and oppression, including the impact of high rates of low socioeconomic status and lack of access to health care, and to therapeutic factors, including a lack of counselor training and preparation in meeting the specific needs of women from the African American community (McClain, 2001).…”

“…Covington (2008) recognized the significance of gender-responsive service options in substance abuse treatment, and the importance of focusing on the life experiences of women in a maledominated society. However, treatment options for African American women who are struggling with addictions have historically been limited to the same options that are available to the general population of men and non-ethnic people seeking treatment for addictions (Matthews & Lorah, 2005). These authors recognized that substance abuse programs have traditionally been created from a Eurocentric perspective and tend to overlook societal influences on the daily lives of women and African Americans, and how this influence may impact the treatment needs of this group (Matthews & Lorah, 2005).…”

“…However, treatment options for African American women who are struggling with addictions have historically been limited to the same options that are available to the general population of men and non-ethnic people seeking treatment for addictions (Matthews & Lorah, 2005). These authors recognized that substance abuse programs have traditionally been created from a Eurocentric perspective and tend to overlook societal influences on the daily lives of women and African Americans, and how this influence may impact the treatment needs of this group (Matthews & Lorah, 2005). Although traditional 12-step programs have been successful in the substance abuse field in general, there is a perception that 12-step programs tend to deny differences and deemphasize the very approaches recommended for African American women, such as a focus on support and community rather than the traditional focus on self (Stevens-Watkins, Perry, Harp, & Oser, 2012).…”

“…however, it is important to recognize that African American women remain a population that is both unlikely to receive adequate treatment and more likely to be punished for behavior associated with alcohol and drug use (Van Wormer & Bartollas, 2000). With addiction treatment often being directed by the medical model and emphasizing the physiological impact of substance abuse, the addiction may be treated as an individual experience that denies the realities of sexism and racism in the recovery efforts of African American women (Matthews & Lorah, 2005;Rhodes & Johnson, 1997;Stevens-Watkins et al, 2012).…”