Women and alcohol problems: a critical analysis of the literature and unanswered questions

The evaluation of alcohol treatment services for women that emerged from the deliberations of the expert panel and RSA roundtable clearly documents the importance of interdisciplinary research. This research considers the particular social and physical context of women's lives and uses measurement tools and outcome measures appropriate for women. Development of gender-tested measurements, gender-relevant treatment services, and gender-appropriate outcome evaluations is necessary to ensure that women receive the services they need. The inclusion of women from geographically and ethnically diverse subject populations, as well as from subgroups who have traditionally been excluded from health research, is critical in the development of scientifically sound, research-based knowledge of the treatment of women with alcohol problems. The papers that follow include critical reviews of the literature by members of the expert panel, and these reviews were enriched by the roundtable discussion at RSA. Schmidt and McCarty evaluate the research on women supported on welfare. The unique challenges for pregnant women on Medicaid are discussed by Hankin, McCaul, and Heussner. The research on alcohol treatment specific to older women is critiqued by Blow, and the barriers and need for alcohol service for women in rural populations are discussed by Booth and McLaughlin. The relationships between substance abuse and violence are assessed by Miller, Wilsnack, and Cunradi. Finally, Sinha and O'Malley discuss critical gaps in understanding the impact on treatment outcomes of co-occurring disorders such as depression, anxiety, and eating disorders.