SUBSTANCE MISUSE IN ADULT WOMEN

Exploration Of Substance Misuse In Adult Women

Abstract

A review of the literature found that women substance misusers, more often than men, have been found to have high rates of violent victimization as children and as adults. These victims of childhood sexual and physical abuse exhibit negative psychological outcomes of low self-esteem, depression, and anxiety, and they may turn to substance use as a way to cope with these painful psychological consequences. Once women begin to use substances, their experience in the drug world, coupled with their vulnerable psychological state from childhood trauma puts them at risk for continued victimization from domestic violence, and from sexual assault. The experience of adult victimization reinforces negative feelings of low self-worth, depression and helplessness for these women which in turn leads to continued misuse and dependence on substances. Clinical implications for treatment of women with substance misuse problems are presented, and suggestions for future research are discussed.

Table of contents

Abstract2

Table of contents3

Chapter 1: Introduction4

Background of the study4

Purpose of the study5

Significance of the study5

Rationale6

Chapter 2: Literature Review7

Psychological Outcomes7

Female Substance Misusers8

Investigation9

Abuse Relationships10

Chapter 3: Research methodology11

Sample11

Participants12

Interview/Questionares14

Chapter: 4 Results15

Chapter 5: Discussion19

Conclusion25

Recommendations30

Limitations33

References35

Appendix55

Chapter 1: Introduction

Background of the study

In the past, drug and alcohol misuse was a greater problem among men than women. Unfortunately, the gap has been narrowing, and recent reports suggest increasing numbers of women with substance misuse problems. Researchers have shown that women do worse, relative to men, in substance misuse treatment programs, and have reported that rates of women's entry into treatment, retention in treatment, and successful completion of treatment are significantly lower than those for men (Blume, 1990, Gutierres and Todd, 1997, Reed, 1985 and Stevens et al., 1989). Given the documented difficulties that women have in treatment, it is important to try to understand the factors that may explain these difficulties.

Purpose of the study

The main purpose of the study is to explore the reasons of substance misuse in adult women. The paper first reviews the research that shows the psychological consequences of experiencing childhood abuse and then reviews studies which show that childhood abuse is a stronger predictor of substance misuse for women than for men. The paper then reviews studies which show the relationship between adult victimization of women (domestic violence, sexual abuse) and substance misuse, and studies which show the relationship between lifespan violence (childhood and adult victimization) and substance misuse among women. The paper concludes with a discussion of the implications for treatment providers who work with women substance misusers who have been victims of childhood and adult violence.

Significance of the study

A number of researchers have shown a link between violent trauma and substance misuse in the lives of women (Amaro et al., 1990, Clark, 1996 Clark, A. H. (1996). Testing a self-medication hypothesis in battered women. Doctoral Dissertation; Pepperdine University.Clark, 1996, Ladwig and Andersen, 1992 and Peone et al., 1992). Fullilove et al. (1993) reported that nearly 90% of women in treatment for addictive disorders have a history of violent traumas. Kandall (1996), in an historical analysis of women ...