Gender differences in seven-year alcohol and drug treatment outcomes among older adults

Am J Addict. 2007 May-Jun;16(3):216-21. doi: 10.1080/10550490701375673.

Abstract

This study examined participants at seven-year follow-up to assess long-term outcomes of older women (n = 25) and men (n = 59) ages 55 and over in an outpatient addiction program. It measured demographic characteristics, alcohol and drug use, psychiatric symptoms, Addiction Severity Index, treatment length, and outcomes. At seven years, 76.0% of women reported abstinence in the prior 30 days versus 54.2% of men, p = .05. Logistic regression analysis found that longer treatment stay predicted abstinence. Findings indicate that older women have better long-term addiction outcome than older men, but treatment length is more significant than gender in predicting outcome.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Aftercare
  • Aged
  • Alcoholism / therapy*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Length of Stay
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Self-Help Groups
  • Sex Factors*
  • Social Support
  • Substance-Related Disorders / therapy*
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome