Abstract
There is a psychological, social, and cultural experience of stigmatization associated with “socially problematic” drug use of any type by a woman. In 1999 13% of the female population in the United States used illicit substances, prescribed medication, or both in recreational ways. Such behavior violates the female role expectations. The empowerment approach to clinical practice attempts to make connections between people's problems and their social and economic reality. Empowerment theory functions under the belief that populations will manifest their potentials when there exists a “goodness of fit” between themselves and their environments. The clinical use of empowerment theory in working with substance abusing women will enable the practitioner to strengthen this population both individually and collectively to work toward self-efficacy, hopefulness, and a sense of personal power, promoting this “goodness of fit” between recovering women and their environments