Evaluation of a women-only service for substance misusers

Abstract

Substance misuse services have noted a gender difference regarding substance misuse, access to treatment and use of services. This study examined a women-only service (WS) within a substance misuse service (SMS), comparing process and outcome measures of attendees. The WS provided a variety of therapeutic inputs, either as the sole therapeutic intervention or complementing those provided by the SMS. The process evaluation reviewed gender ratios and attendance within the service since the WS's inception. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to assess whether service aims had been achieved and user satisfaction. A validated assessment instrument, the CISS, was used to rate objective changes in health and social status. Most of the women tended to be referred from within the SMS, rather than directly from the community. A greater proportion of alcohol users than of drug users attended the WS, and there was no change in the gender ratio (M:F) within the SMS, since the WS started. Overall, the participants made health and social gains and expressed satisfaction with the WS. Although the WS was the only contact for substance misuse treatment for a proportion of women, there was a reasonable cohort of occasional attendees who did not engage with the service. These results demonstrate that the WS achieved most of its aims and, for regular users of the service, perceived and objective improvements were reported in addition to user satisfaction.

• Gender Differences
• Drugs
• Alcohol
• Women Service