Relapse among substance-abusing women: components and processes

This article is based on part of a project in which 32 women who experienced substance use-related problems were interviewed. The purpose of the article is to explore factors related to the women's relapse so that practitioners can better understand the nature of women's relapse and more effectively help them. Qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted, audiotaped (with the exception of three women), and transcribed. The interview was guided by open-ended questions - exploring factors that led to the women's initial substance use, abstinence, and relapse; factors that prompted them to come for treatment; and their experience with the treatment. These open-ended questions were supplemented with follow-up questions probing further critical elements shared by participants initially. The mean age of the sample was 34 years old, with over half being white, followed by Latina/Hispanic, African American, and Native American. Most women reported being poly-drug users, followed by methamphetamine/amphetamines, heroine, cocaine, and alcohol. The average number of years of education was 11 years. Four major themes representing factors contributing to the women's relapse were identified: (1) low self-worth and its connection to intimate relationships with men; (2) interpersonal conflicts and/or negative emotion; (3) less ability to sever the tie with the using network and to establish a tie with the non-using network; and (4) a lack of AOD-related knowledge and relapse prevention coping skills. The qualitative approach enables the study to report not only the four general themes but also the multiple dimensions and building blocks underlying each theme so that the pertinent contexts and specific meanings of women's relapses can be understood. Many of the factors appeared to be related to women's socialization and the gender-role formation process as well as their disadvantageous social reality. The study suggests several topics for inclusion in women's relapse prevention curriculum and program. It also suggests a holistic life approach that combines both the environment and the individual and emphasizes both habilitation and rehabilitation to help women prevent relapse. Suggestions for future research are also discussed.