The role of gender in engaging the dually diagnosed in treatment

Individuals with both a serious mental illness and substance abuse are part icularly difficult to engage in treatment. Given known gender differences i n both substance abuse and schizophrenia, we examined the impact of gender on treatment engagement. Qualitative interviews with ten males and eleven f emales focused on how the client perceived the engagement process, and what obstacles they faced. While both males and females are difficult to engage , the interviews suggest that they experience the process differently and t hat they face different obstacles. We discuss the implication for service p roviders,