Residential Treatment for Women Parolees Following Prison-Based Drug Treatment: Treatment Experiences,Needs and Services,Outcomes

Abstract

This article reports on an evaluation of the community residential phase of a prison-based program for drug-using women, the Forever Free Substance Abuse Program at the California Institute for Women. Three groups were interviewed: graduates from Forever Free who entered residential treatment, graduates who did not enter residential treatment, and women who applied to Forever Free but were not able to enter. The study assessed treatment experiences, needs and services received, and drug use and parole outcomes 1 year after the women were released from prison. Briefly, findings indicate that the women's needs for relapse prevention training and drug treatment were not met, women often did not complete treatment, and women who participated in community residential treatment had lower self-reported drug use rates and higher levels of successful parole discharge than women in the other two groups. Multiple needs beyond drug treatment must be addressed to increase treatment entry and improve retention in programs.

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