African-American women who are addicted to illicit substances are disproportionately over-represented in jails, prisons, and treatment programs. In addition, this group suffers greater deleterious physical and mental health effects of alcohol and drug abuse (McNeece & DiNitto, 1998). When African-American female substance abusers enter treatment or are the focus of intervention research, clinicians and researchers have a distinct opportunity to serve these women in a culturally competent manner and assist in the healing and recovery process. Black feminist theory and Black family theoretical perspectives are explicated as the theoretical underpinnings of the Afrocentric treatment paradigm, which is beneficial in developing culturally sensitive interventions for this group of women. Culturally appropriate treatment tools and interventions are suggested as a means of empowering substance dependent African-American women.
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