A Therapeutic Community for Substance-Abusing Pregnant Women and Women with Children: Process and Outcome

Abstract

The fact that women of childbearing age make up a large proportion of the alcohol and other drug using population has gained national attention. Since treatment for addicted pregnant women and women with children has become a federal priority, treatment programs of various modalities have opened their doors to this population. One promising treatment modality is the therapeutic community (TC). This article briefly describes Amity, a TC for women and children that provides long-term residential TC treatment for addicted pregnant women and women with children. Amity currently has 65 women and 50 children living together in treatment on a 23-acre ranch. Descriptive data including demographic information and data on violence are presented. Preliminary outcome data are detailed, comparing drop out and treatment completion on such variables as alcohol and other drug use, rearrest, employment, child custody, and involvement in support groups. Apallern of behavior in volving experiences in violent episodes and alcohol and other drug use is illuminated and discussed. Ideas for further research are suggested.

Keywords:

• addicted pregnant women
• children
• residential treatment
• substance abuse
• therapeutic community