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Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy
Published in: Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy 1/2009

Open Access 01-12-2009 | Research

Nowhere to go: How stigma limits the options of female drug users after release from jail

Authors: Juliana van Olphen, Michele J Eliason, Nicholas Freudenberg, Marilyn Barnes

Published in: Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy | Issue 1/2009

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Abstract

Background

Drug and alcohol using women leaving prison or jail face many challenges to successful re-integration in the community and are severely hampered in their efforts by the stigma of drug or alcohol use compounded by the stigma of incarceration.

Methods

This qualitative study is based on individual semi-structured interviews and focus groups with 17 women who had recently left jail about the challenges they faced on reentry.

Results

Our analysis identified three major themes, which are related by the overarching influence of stigma: survival (jobs and housing), access to treatment services, and family and community reintegration.

Conclusion

Stigma based on drug use and incarceration works to increase the needs of women for health and social services and at the same time, restricts their access to these services. These specific forms of stigma may amplify gender and race-based stigma. Punitive drug and social policies related to employment, housing, education, welfare, and mental health and substance abuse treatment make it extremely difficult for women to succeed.
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Metadata
Title
Nowhere to go: How stigma limits the options of female drug users after release from jail
Authors
Juliana van Olphen
Michele J Eliason
Nicholas Freudenberg
Marilyn Barnes
Publication date
01-12-2009
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy / Issue 1/2009
Electronic ISSN: 1747-597X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1747-597X-4-10

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