The Impact of an Outpatient Program for Women with Substance Use-Related Disorders on Retention

Abstract

Meeting the needs of women manifesting substance-use disorders is a goal in developing treatment programs for this population. As retention in treatment is positively related to treatment outcome, the length of stay in outpatient treatment of alcohol- and other drug-dependent women in Brazil was compared between two programs. Data were analyzed from 181 women entering a Mixed-Gender Program from 1986 to 1996 and from 80 women entering a Women-Only Program from 1997 to 1998. A greater 3-month retention rate was observed in the Women-Only as opposed to the Mixed-Gender Program. Moreover, the impact was more significant among the alcohol-dependent women. This finding suggests that the heterogeneity of women with substance-use disorders has to be taken into account when developing appropriate treatment strategies.

• Drug
• Alcohol
• Treatment
• Women
• Treatment retention
• Treatment outcome
• Treatment drop out
• Substance of choice
• Continuity of care

Resumen

Atender las necesidades de las mujeres dependientes de sustancias es con frecuencia una finalidad del desenvolvimiento de programas de tratamiento hacia esta población. Como la permanencia en tratamiento es asociada positivamente hacia la eficacia del mismo, los autores compararon el tiempo de permanencia en tratamiento ambulatorial de brasileñas drogadictas y alcohólicas en dos modelos de programas. Informaciónes referentes hacia 181 mujeres empezando a uno programa mixto hacia el género de 1986 hasta 1996 y 80 mujeres empezando a uno programa solamente para mujeres de 1997 a 1998 fueran analizados. Se observó que la adherencia después de 3 meses era más elevada en el programa solamente para mujeres si comparado al programa mixto hacia el género. Además de eso, el impacto era más significativo para las alcohólicas. Los resultados apuntan que si tome nota de la heterogeneidad de las mujeres químicamente dependientes cuando del desenvolvimiento de estrategias adecuadas de tratamiento.

Résumé

Satisfaire les exigences des femmes chimiquement dépendantes est fréquemment un objectif au développement des programmes de traitement pour cette population. Comme la permanence au traitement s’associe positifmment avec sa efficacité, les auteurs ont comparé le temps de permanence au ambulatoire de bréseliennes toxicomanes et alcooliques dans deux types de programmes. Informations de 181 femmes chez un programme mixte quant au genre de 1986 à 1996 et 80 femmes chez un programme seulement pour femmes de 1997 à 1998 ont était analysé. Il a été vérifié que la permanence au traitement après 3 mois était plus haute chez le programme seulement pour femmes par rapport au programme mixte quant au genre. De plus, l’impact était plus significatif pour les femmes alcooliques. Les résultats indiquent la nécessité de faire attention à l’hétérogéinété des femmes chimiquement dépendantes quand du développement des stratégies thérapeutiques adéquats.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Monica L. Zilberman

Monica L. Zilberman, M.D., Ph.D., attended medical school, completed residency in Psychiatry, was Chief Resident, and obtained her doctorate degree at the Medical School of the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil. She participated in the development of the Women Drug Dependent Treatment Center (PROMUD) between 1996 and 1998. After specializing in gender issues in addiction as a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Calgary, Canada, she is currently back to the University of São Paulo, Brazil, in a fellow position.

Hermano Tavares

Hermano Tavares, M.D., Ph.D., attended medical school, completed residency in Psychiatry, was Chief Resident, and obtained his doctorate degree at the Medical School of the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil. After specializing in pathological gambling and its relation to personality as a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Calgary, Canada, he is currently back to the University of São Paulo, Brazil, in a fellow position.

Arthur G. Andrade

Arthur G. Andrade, M.D., Ph.D., is full professor of Medical Psychology and Psychiatry from the Medical School of ABC, São Paulo, and associate professor from the Department of Psychiatry at the Medical School of the University of São Paulo. He coordinates the Interdisciplinary Group of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs since 1981. His work includes activities in alcohol and drugs control in the areas of Treatment, Prevention, and Research. The target groups are the general public, health professionals, treatment providers, employers, and employees.

Nady El-Guebaly

Nady El-Guebaly, M.D., is currently Professor and Head, Division of Substance Abuse, Department of Psychiatry at the University of Calgary in Alberta, Canada. He is Board Chair of the Alberta Gaming Research Institute; Board Chair of The Foundation of the Canadian Psychiatric Association, as well as Board Member of the Canadian Medical Association; Chair, Drug Dependence and Alcoholism Section of the World Psychiatric Association; and Founding President of the International Society of Addiction Medicine. Major research interests have included the vulnerability of offspring of alcoholic parents, developing optimal treatment opportunities for the mentally ill substance abuser, the health impact of pathological gambling, medical education, and international delivery of care.