141st APHA Annual Meeting

In This section

286176
Relationship between mental health indicators and drug use in women with substance use disorders (SUDs): Preliminary outcomes from a community-based, residential (SUD) treatment program for pregnant and post-partum women

Tuesday, November 5, 2013 : 11:20 AM - 11:35 AM

Angela Fitzgerald, MS , Planning, Development, Research, Evaluation & Substance Use Disorders Services Division, Richmond Behavioral Health Authority, Richmond, VA
Ryan Friedberg, MPH , Planning, Development, Research, Evaluation & Substance Use Disorders Services Division, Richmond Behavioral Health Authority, Richmond, VA
Dawn Farrell-Moore, MSW, LCSW, CSAC , Planning, Development, Research, Evaluation & Substance Use Disorders Services Division, Richmond Behavioral Health Authority, Richmond, VA
Lori Keyser-Marcus, PhD , Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Dierdre Pearson, LCSW, CSAC , Planning, Development, Research, Evaluation & Substance Use Disorders Services Division, Richmond Behavioral Health Authority, Richmond, VA
Amy Bradshaw, MSW , Planning, Development, Research, Evaluation & Substance Use Disorders Services Division, Richmond Behavioral Health Authority, Richmond, VA
David N. Masri, PhD (ABD) , Planning, Development, Research, Evaluation & Substance Use Disorders Services Division, Richmond Behavioral Health Authority, Richmond, VA
James May, PhD , Planning, Development, Research, Evaluation & Substance Use Disorders Services Division, Richmond Behavioral Health Authority, Richmond, VA
Pregnant and postpartum women in need of treatment for substance use disorders (SUDs) confront a myriad of gender-specific barriers to recovery, perhaps including certain types of psychological distress. Gender-specific approaches to SUD treatment have been identified as evidence-based and are thought to produce more positive treatment outcomes, but not all women respond equally. The authors utilized an existing program evaluation database to investigate mental health indicators that might be associated with or predict future drug and alcohol use among pregnant and postpartum women receiving community-based, residential SUD treatment. The GPRA (Government Performance Results Act) Structured Interview and the BASIS-24 (Behavior and Symptom Identification Scale 24) were administered to 49 consumers at intake and 6-months post-admission to evaluate relationships between drug use and psychological functioning. Preliminary results reveal significant associations between BASIS-24 subscale and change scores with self-reported drug use. Self-Harm subscale scores were positively associated with drug and alcohol use at intake, and the use of Cocaine/ Crack, Heroin and Marijuana at 6-months post-admission. Psychosis subscale scores were positively associated with alcohol use at intake and at 6-months. Substance Abuse subscale scores were positively associated with Cocaine/Crack use at 6-months post-admission. Change scores from intake to 6-months post-admission on the Relationship subscale were negatively associated with alcohol use to intoxication at 6-months, while Self Harm change scores were positively associated with the use of Cocaine/Crack, Heroin and Marijuana at 6-months. These results can inform the design of more effective community-based assessment and treatment approaches for women with SUDs.

Learning Areas:
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Identify gender-specific factors associated with drug use Evaluate outcomes of a grant-funded residential SUD treatment program for pregnant and postpartum women

Keywords: Women's Health, Substance Abuse

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have over 8 years of data analysis, research, evaluation and grant-writing experience, and have been the researcher of multiple federally funded grants focusing on SUD treatment services and relevant outcomes.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.