Sexual and physical abuse: Do they compromise drug treatment outcomes?

The relationship between sexual and physical abuse and substance abuse consequences

“…The frequency of physical and sexual abuse is similar to that found in other studies of clients at methadone and detoxification programs (Clark et al, 2001;Gil-Rivas et al, 1997;Hien & Scheier, 1996). The finding of initial occurrence of these traumatic events in childhood in three-quarters of the victimized subjects underscores the multiple challenges faced by patients and staff in detoxification programs.…”

“…Women who used drugs at study entry had an increased risk of subsequent assault, although women who used alcohol alone did not have this increased risk (Kilpatrick, Acierno, Resnick, & Saunders, 1997). Other investigators have looked retrospectively at histories of interpersonal violence among both male and female clients of drug treatment programs and found that, while prevalent, histories of interpersonal violence do not appear to correlate with worse treatment outcomes (Gil-Rivas, Fiorentine, Anglin, & Taylor, 1997;Hien & Scheier, 1996).…”

Lifetime physical and sexual abuse and substance use treatment outcomes in men

“…Male and female SUD patients with a history of physical or sexual abuse appear to be at greater risk for lifetime psychiatric diagnosis, lifetime suicidal ideation, and lifetime suicide attempt at treatment intake (Gil-Rivas, Fiorentine, Anglin, & Taylor, 1997;Windle et al, 1995). However, patients with a physical or sexual abuse history have shown greater improvement in the severity of psychiatric problems over time, relative to SUD patients without a history of abuse (Charney et al, 2007).…”

Sexual abuse history and treatment outcomes among women undergoing methadone treatment

“…However, it is unclear whether the problems associated with sexual abuse per se impact treatment outcomes and as to what extent if they do (Fiorentine, Pilati, & Hillhouse, 1999;Gil-Rivas, Fiorentine, Anglin, & Taylor, 1997;Rosen, Ouimette, Sheikh, Gregg, & Moos, 2002). Women with an opiate dependence seen in methadone treatment programs appear to be particularly vulnerable to the possible negative sequelae of having an abuse history (Gilbert, El-Bassel, Schilling, & Friedman, 1997;Hein & Levin, 1994;Villagó mez, Meyer, Lin, & Brown, 1995).…”