Differentials in the treatment of black female heroin addicts

The National Institute on Drug Abuse has placed special emphasis on meeting the unique requirements of female and minority addicts. Yet, few attempts have been made to delineate the needs of Black female heroin addicts. Differentiation among Black female addicts on the basis of treatment needs remains even more limited. This study of Black men and women entering an inner-city methadone maintenance program attempts to fill that gap. Multiple discriminant analysis indicates that these women may not be one homogeneous group. The typology developed for female respondents is quite similar to that developed for male respondents. Conclusions suggest that each type of Black female addict has different treatment needs. Furthermore, the convergence in male and female typologies suggests that treatment might be based on needs stemming from lifestyle rather than gender.