Gender-Responsive Drug Court Treatment: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Women who participate in women-only substance abuse treatment programs benefit from reduced PTSD and better treatment outcomes than women in mixed-sex treatment programs.

Introduction

Standard substance abuse treatment programs typically treat both men and women together, providing the same service regardless of gender. Yet research has shown that the treatment needs of women are quite different and more complex than those of men. Women who are drug offenders are significantly more likely than men to experience symptoms of psychiatric disorders, parental stress, housing issues, and have histories of sexual and physical abuse. There is also an increased demand by women for childcare, pregnancy services, and services for women with histories of trauma and domestic violence. Can gender-specific drug programs (e.g. programs that only work with women) address these issues that disproportionately affect women offenders? Previous research indicates that when women participate in gender-specific drug programs, they have lower levels of arrest, fewer mental health issues, and increased drug treatment participation, than women who participate in mixed-gender treatment programs. Evaluating these programs can help find out what approaches are optimal to prevent women from returning to the criminal justice system. Increasing their participation in these programs, reducing their drug rates and symptoms of psychiatric disorders can assist this process. This study analyzes whether women’s participation in treatment programs (evidenced by their violations of court-mandated attendance), drug rates, and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder differ if they are in a gender-specific or mixed-gender drug treatment program.

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