Women with methamphetamine dependence: research on etiology and treatment.

The epidemic of methamphetamine dependence is spreading eastward across the United States. Unlike the gender ratio associated with most other drugs of abuse, the proportion of woman methamphetamine users is nearly equal to men. This review will describe reasons why women begin use of methamphetamine, especially those that differ from the usual reasons for initiating drug use.

Family-focused substance abuse treatment: a program evaluation.

Until recently, few programs were available for children whose mothers are in recovery. A refinement of the gender-specific model of substance abuse treatment, the "family-focused" approach, has placed increased emphasis on the needs of children and other family members. However, because these programs are relatively new, little is known about the effectiveness of this type of treatment for either the mother or her children.

Evaluation of a Grief Group for Women in Residential Substance Abuse Treatment.

Most women in substance abuse treatment have experienced significant losses. This preliminary study examined the effectiveness of a therapy group addressing grief and loss among women enrolled in a gender-specific residential substance abuse treatment program. The intervention group consisted of 24 grief group participants and the comparison group consisted of 31 nonparticipants.