Prognostic Indicators of Successful Treatment for Chemically Dependent Women

The idea of specialized treatment for chemically dependent women is a relatively new notion, and professionals charged with the responsibility of treating these individuals will find little in the way of empirical guidance. In this study a number of personal variables were assessed for their potential effect on the length of sobriety for women addicts in long-term, intensive, residential treatment. It was questioned how treatment programs can address the special needs of women in treatment in order to increase the likelihood of long-term sobriety. Participants consisted of 95 clients who received chemical dependency treatment in a long-term treatment program over a 4-year period. Clients were classified into three groups based on length of sobriety. Categorical data were accumulated for 16 personal-predictor variables and then analyzed for their association with length of sobriety. Two single predictor variables, support group experience and income source, were positively associated with long-term sobriety. A third variable, abuse history, was negatively associated with sobriety. The conclusion is made that the ultimate goal of all agencies is to provide the most appropriate treatment to each client. (Contains 1 table; 1 appendix; and 35 references.) (JDM) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document.