Problem Severity Profiles of Substance Abusing Women in Therapeutic Treatment Facilities

This article aims to examine specific substance use profiles among former Soviet Union (FSU) immigrant and native-born women in Israeli therapeutic treatment facilities. Individuals were sampled at drug treatment facilities and assessed using the Addiction Severity Index. ASI scores suggest differences between the two groups. Among the findings are native born females have been using heroin and amphetamines longer than FSU immigrants; however, immigrant women have more years of alcohol use. FSU women are more inclined to be injection drug users, prefer shorter forms of treatment, and to use alcohol when receiving treatment for heroin addiction. FSU women have higher levels of chronic medical problems, HCV, and HIV/AIDS. The study results tend to support the position that treatment of special populations may be enhanced if their particular needs associated with personal attributes and background characteristcs are considered and met in a treatment environment.