Women's Experience in Holistic Chemical Dependency Treatment: An Exploratory Qualitative Study

Research suggests that gender-specific treatment for women with chemical dependency issues might be more effective than dual-gender programs. Several authors have posited that this might be due to the fact that women in treatment have differing sets of presenting problems than men. The purpose of this exploratory qualitative study was to investigate women's experiences in a single-gender, holistically focused chemical dependency treatment program. Results based on focus group interviews with 23 women suggest that the variables of empowerment, holistic services, children in treatment, domestic violence services, cohesion, and staff characteristics have distinct effects on women's experiences in chemical dependency treatment. Questions for further study are offered.