Abstract
Many states are now moving toward enrolling Medicaid recipients into managed care programs. This presents both opportunities and challenges to providers treating individuals with personal adjustment and/or substance abuse problems. A comparative research design was used to describe two groups of low-income women in Houston, Texas: 133 chronic drug users and 381 non-drug users. Participants were administered the Multidimensional Addictions and Personality Profile (MAPP) in order to measure personal adjustment and substance abuse problems. The results show that while many of the nonusers in the sample may only require moderate outpatient services, a substantial proportion of drug-using women (31%) required inpatient hospitalization for personal adjustment or substance abuse problems. An additional 12% of drug users had substance abuse problems or personal adjustment problems sufficient for referral to in-hospital treatment with substantial structured aftercare. We endorse a multidimensional approach in providing services to low-income individuals within a managed care setting.