Gender differences in long-term drug treatment outcomes in Chicago PETS

• DOI: 10.1016/j.jsat.2004.08.008
• Publication Date: 2005-03-23T12:40:21Z
• Authors: Christine E. Grella; Christy K. Scott; Mark A. Foss
• Keywords: Adult; Male; Time Factors; Substance-Related Disorders; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; Sex Factors; Treatment Outcome; Catchment Area, Health; Socioeconomic Factors; 5. Gender equality; Humans; Family; Female; Interpersonal Relations; Illinois; Social Behavior; 0305 other medical science; 10. No inequality; Follow-Up Studies

Few long-term follow-up studies of substance abusers have examined gender differences. In the current study, gender differences were examined at 36 months following residential or outpatient drug-free treatment among 951 participants in the Chicago Target Cities Project, the majority of whom were female (62%) and African American (93%). There were no differences in the proportion of men and women who reported any alcohol or drug use at the 36-month follow-up, with an overall reduction of 41% from intake. Greater proportions of men were incarcerated or employed, whereas greater proportions of women had returned to treatment, lived with their children, lived with a substance user, or had interpersonal problems. Women, as a group, had greater increases over time in self-help participation, free time spent with family, non-using family/friends, and employment. Although both men and women showed significant improvements following treatment, gender differences persisted in several areas of psychosocial functioning related to recovery.