Gender differences in income after substance abuse treatment

This study asked whether men and women who enrolled in substance use treatm ent reported similar changes in income from work, public assistance, and cr ime over time. Income data were analyzed for 261 substance users (77 women, 184 men) who entered day or residential treatment, and completed Addiction Severity Index measures at treatment entry and up to 18 months later. Over time, respondents reported increases in employment income. People whose ma in source of income at baseline had been crime or public assistance showed significant decreases respectively in income from crime or public assistanc e. Men made greater gains in work income than women did. Across time, men w ere more likely to be employed than women were. Findings show the economic value of substance use treatment, but less improvement in employment outcom es for women than men. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.