Revisiting the need for feminism and afrocentric theory when treating African-American female substance abusers

African-American women who are addicted to illicit substances are dispropor tionately over-represented in jails, prisons, and treatment programs. In ad dition, this group suffers greater deleterious physical and mental health e ffects of alcohol and drug abuse (McNeece & DiNitto, 1998). When African-Am erican female substance abusers enter treatment or are the focus of interve ntion research, clinicians and researchers have a distinct opportunity to s erve these women in a culturally competent manner and assist in the healing and recovery process. Black feminist theory and Black family theoretical p erspectives are explicated as the theoretical underpinnings of the Afrocent ric treatment paradigm, which is beneficial in developing culturally sensit ive interventions for this group of women. Culturally appropriate treatment tools and interventions are suggested as a means of empowering substance d ependent African-American women.