Berchiolly 1 Brianna Berchiolly Leslie Wolcott ENC 1102: 0038 04 April 2014 Literature Review on Substance Abuse in Women

A majority of the current literature on substance abuse specific to women focuses on the causes and treatment programs for substance abuse. Other research shows the effects substance abusing mothers have on their children and the role of social work in the process of recovery. Living in a society that has become so aware of substance abuse, treatment programs seem to lack effectiveness. Even though they have developed treatment programs for individuals who suffer from a substance abuse a majority of them are designed for men. Women require a specialized treatment program because their reason for using differs from the reason men use. With substance abuse being a major issue it is important that the social workers who work with these women everyday are properly trained in order to develop a more effective methods for not only the recovery process but to make sure these women develop a healthy life style. This literature review will immerse into the conversation of substance abuse specific to women and the social workers role in their recovery process. Causes of Substance Abuse The main causes for women specifically to use and abuse alcohol and other substances is having psychological, physical and or sexual abuse in their past or present relationships. (Call et al,2007; Carlson, 2006; Chandler et al, 2005; Goldberg, 1995; Stormwall et al, 2004). A majority of women who develop a substance abuse problem rarely or never misuse alcohol or other

Berchiolly 2 substance. Being abused by a partner or a parent can cause posttraumatic stress disorder which causes them to not only resent themselves but also find a way to repress their memories of abuse. (Goldberg, 1995; Stormwall et al 2004) Women may also begin using substance because they lack financial resources, housing, jobs, and have a poor support system. (Finkelstein, 1994) Lack of a job or housing can lead women to begin using in order to escape from everyday life. Since a majority of women who abuse alcohol or other substance lack family or withdrawal from relationship they receive little to no support system to pull them back into reality causing their addiction to become out of hand. Treatment A majority of treatment programs are created by and for men. (Finkelstein, 1994) Women suffer different emotional, social and economic issues then men that can be the cause for their abuse, therefore women need to be treated differently. Treatment programs should begin by separating the client from the abusive partner or negative support systems. (Tracy et al, 2010) Since women are powered more by their emotions they are more likely to suffer from a mental health disorder so it is important to identify all causes of abuse since this may require multiple levels of intervention. (Finkelstein, 1994; Stormwall et al, 2004) Women based treatment methods should focus on teaching them self-efficacy, empowerment and taking responsibility for their own lives. (LaFave et al, 2008; Macenko et al, 2008; Selznick et al, 2012) The treatment methods should develop relationships between the client and therapist to develop a support system that allows them to feel safe and supported. The relationships should be a balance of client independence and assistance that set realistic expectations (LaFave et al, 2008; Russle et al, 2005; Selznick et al, 2012)

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Effect on Children Since mothers are more likely to become single parents many children are greatly affected by women who suffer from a substance abuse problem. The influence the abuse has on a children can vary depending on their age and rather or not they are present during the abuse. (Carlson, 2006) Children who are not old enough to provide for themselves can suffer from physical health problems and withdrawal from relationship from the outside world. It is very common that children develop psychological problems and will also begin abusing substances such as alcohol and illegal drugs. When mothers become involved in treatment programs it is important to also observe their children and provide treatment for them rather it be physical or mental in order to stop any form of abuse before it begins. (Carlson, 2006; Finkelstein, 1994) Children also play a role in women substance abuse because they become the leading barrier for why mothers refuse to seek treatment they fear that they will have to put their children through foster care and lose custody of their children. (Comfort et al, 2002; Finkelstein, 1994) A majority of treatments separates the children from their mother in order for the women to focus on treatment. These treatments lack understanding of maternal issues and womens emotions. (Finkelstein, 1994) Social Workers Few social workers indicated substance abuse as their primary practice. Substance abuse is involved in many different social work field such as children foster care, mental health, and domestic violence it is important that they are properly trained to be prepared for the cases where they encounter substance abuse problems so that people who suffer from substance abuse can

Berchiolly 4 receive proper services. (Selznick et al, 2012; Smith et al, 2006) Social workers help determine the larger picture when looking at the cause for abuse. (Goldberg, 1995) Research Gap There has been plenty of research done on the causes and treatment of substance abuse in women that shows the need for specialized treatment methods. While substance abuse in women is a problem that effects millions of people there is very few social workers who are actually specialized in substance abuse. Social workers are required to obtain a bachelors degree to be able to begin work. If you look at the University of Central Floridas Bachelor Social Work program it lacks classes that are specific to substance abuse. At the University of Central Florida it is not until entering the maters program that they offer one course for substance abuse which can be taken as an elective. Since a Social Worker can begin with a bachelors degree courses such as substance abuse should be required to be taken before you are able to work with people that suffer from these life altering issues.

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Work Cited Call, Christine R., and Nelsen, Judith C. 2007. Partner Abuse and Womens Substance Problems: From Vulnerability to Strength. AFFILIA: Journal of Women and Social Work. 22 (4): 334-346. Carlson, Bonnie E. 2006. Best Practices in the Treatment of Substance-abusing Women in the Child welfare. Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions 6 (3):97-115. Chandler, Daniel., Meisel, Joan., Jordan, Pat. And others. 2005. Substance abuse, employment, and welfare tenure. Social Service Review. 78 (4): 628-651. Comfort, M., Loverro, J., Kaltenback, K. 2002. A search for strategies to engage women in substance abuse treatment. Social Work in Health Care. 31 (4): 59-70. Finkelstein, N. 1994. Treatment issues for alcohol- and drug-dependent pregnant and parenting women. Health & Social Work. 19 (1): 7-15. Goldberg, M.E. 1995. Substance-abusing Women: False Stereotypes and Real Needs. Social Work 40(6): 789-798. Kail, Barbara L. 2010. Motivating Women with Substance Abuse and Intimate Partner Violence Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions 10(1): 25-43. LaFave, Linda., Desportes, Laura., McBride, Christine. 2008. Treatment Outcomes and Perceived Benefits: A Qualitative and Quantitative Assessment of a Womens Substance Abuse Treatment Program. Women &Therapy 32(1): 51-68.

Berchiolly 6 Marcenko, M. O., Spence, M. 1995. Social and psychological correlates of substance abuse among pregnant women. Social work Research. 19(2). Russell, Mary., & Gockel, Annemarie. 2005. Recovery process in a treatment program for women. Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions. 5(4): 27-46. Selznick, Natasha., Glassman, Michael., Katafiasz, Heather., & Collins, Jennifer C. 2012. Experiences Associated with intervening with Homeless, Substance-abusing Mothers: The Importance of Success. Social Work 57(1): 343-352. Smith, Mickey., Whitaker, Tracy., & Weisman, Toby. 2006. Social Workers in the Substance Abuse Treatment Field: A Snapshot of Service Activities Health & Social Work 31(2): 109-115. Stormwall, Layne K., and Larson, Nancy C. 2004. Womens Experience of Co-Occurring Substance Abuse and Mental Health Conditions. Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions. 4(1): 81-96. Tracy, Elizabeth M., Munson, Michelle R., Peterson, Lance T., & Floersch, Jerry E. 2010. Social Support: A Mixed Blessing for Women in Substance Abuse Treatment. Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions. 10 (3): 257-282.

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Project Proposal In the research gap I mentioned the lack of classes that are based around substance abuse in the Social Work bachelors program that is offered at the University of Central Florida. If Social Workers are able to begin work with a bachelors degree I think it should be an option to take an elective in the undergrad program in substance abuse. I have attached the course requirements for both the bachelor and master programs at the University of Central Florida. In the undergrad program you are required to take three social work electives but none of this electives involve substance abuse. Once you have entered the master program you are required to take 9 credit hours of social work electives, the two for substance abuse are; SOW 6712 Interventions with Substance Abusers (Clinical) SOW 6713 Prevention and Treatment of Adolescent Substance Abuse (Clinical)

This electives are used to help Social Workers specialize in their field. Since undergrads cant specialize it is impossible to open up graduate electives to undergrad students. I propose creating an undergrad elective that doesnt allow you to specialize but teaches the general knowledge to students about substance abuse since many social workers will be faced with issues revolving around substance abuse at some point in their career. This course would be a 3 credit hour course elective for full-time and part-time students that will full-fill one of the social work elective requirement as an undergrad. The course would covers the general knowledge about prevention, intervention, treatment, recovery and relapse issues that regard individuals with substance abuse problems. This elective will successfully give students a general knowledge about some of the issues they may encounter in their career as a Social Worker.

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University of Central Florida Socail Work Bachelours Program Appendix One

Berchiolly 9 University of Central Floridas Social Work Master Program Appendix Two