Predictors of substance abuse treatment entry for crime-involved, cocaine-dependent women

A health services utilization model was used to examine predictors of treatment entry among a large sample (N = 659) of crime-involved, cocaine-dependent women. Previous research in this area has focused on women already in treatment and resultantly excluded a critical population of drug-dependent women who are actively using but not in treatment. Thus, interviews were completed with women who were participating in substance abuse treatment programs and with women who were not currently in treatment to examine what factors may have inhibited or facilitated their entering treatment. The predisposing characteristics, enabling resources, and service needs of these women were assessed in relation to their treatment utilization status. Findings indicated that variables within each of the three categories of the health services model were related to treatment entry including race/ethnicity and education (predisposing characteristics), and alcohol use and having multiple chronic health problems (need). But, overall, enabling factors, such as being legally employed, having health insurance, having custody of children, and knowing where to go to get treatment, appeared to be the most influential predictors. Implications of this research include employing multiple tactics for increasing the likelihood of treatment entry such as aggressive outreach efforts focusing on at-risk women who have the fewest social ties and who are the least integrated into mainstream society.