Gender comparisons of drug abuse treatment outcomes and predictors

Gender differences in drug treatment outcomes and predictors were examined among a sample of 511 patients recruited from drug treatment programs across Los Angeles County. Face-to-face interviews were conducted at baseline and at 1-year follow-up. Results showed that women and men started their drug use and treatment careers at similar ages, but men reported greater drug use and criminal involvement at baseline. There were no significant differences by gender in drug use and alcohol use at follow-up but men reported more crimes than women. Separate logistic regression analyses showed that for both women and men, longer treatment retention was associated with drug abstinence and crime desistence at follow-up. Additional baseline predictors of abstinence at follow-up included use of multiple drugs and readiness for treatment for women, and spousal drug use for men. For crime desistence, significant predictors include legal involvement and treatment readiness for women, and legal involvement, use of multiple drugs, and living with children for men. For both women and men, participation in 12-step groups and no spousal drug use during follow-up were related to abstinence. There were both similarities and differences in predictors of treatment outcome for women and men. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.