Racial/Ethnic Differences in Dually Diagnosed Anglo and Ethnic Minority Women Receiving Chemical Dependency Treatment

ABSTRACT

This article examines racial/ethnic differences in a sample of 51 dually diagnosed women who received chemical dependency treatment. Comparisons are made between Anglo and racial/ethnic minority women at admission to the inpatient treatment program and at follow-up where data are available. Findings from a repeated measures design showed significant decreases in several problem domains for the overall sample. Significant racial/ethnic differences were found only for the other drugs domain. Anglo women reported greater decreases than racial/ethnic minority women in the majority of the domains. Findings suggest continued investigations to inform culturally competent treatment for all dually diagnosed women.

Key Words:

• Dual diagnosis
• chemical dependency
• ethnic minority
• women
• substance abuse
• cultural competence