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Alcohol dependence and use of treatment services among women in the community.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Wu, L-T; Ringwalt, CL
Published in: Am J Psychiatry
October 2004

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the extent and characteristics of alcohol dependence and the perceived need for and use of alcohol treatment services among women compared with men in a nonclinical sample of adults 18-64 years of age. METHOD: Data were drawn from the 1999 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse. The authors calculated rates and correlates of alcohol dependence and treatment among adult alcohol users in this sample. RESULTS: About 3% of the women in the survey met criteria for DSM-IV alcohol dependence in the previous year. About 13% of these women received alcohol treatment services in the same period. Only 8% of the women who did not receive treatment perceived a need for treatment. Younger women-those who were 18-25 years of age-were more likely to be dependent on alcohol but less likely to perceive a need for treatment or to use treatment services. Among alcohol-dependent women who received no treatment, those with a family income of 75,000 US dollars or more, those who had two or more children living with them, and those who were not dependent on psychotherapeutic medications were less likely to perceive a need for help. CONCLUSIONS: There were no significant differences between men and women in use of treatment services, location of services received, and perceived need for treatment. However, correlates of treatment service use varied somewhat by gender. These findings suggest that the goal of efforts to reduce barriers to alcohol treatment services should be to change people's attitudes toward alcohol abuse and seeking professional help.

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Published In

Am J Psychiatry

DOI

ISSN

0002-953X

Publication Date

October 2004

Volume

161

Issue

10

Start / End Page

1790 / 1797

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • United States
  • Substance-Related Disorders
  • Substance Abuse Treatment Centers
  • Sex Factors
  • Psychotropic Drugs
  • Psychiatry
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Prevalence
  • Population Density
  • Patient Acceptance of Health Care
 

Citation

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Wu, L.-T., & Ringwalt, C. L. (2004). Alcohol dependence and use of treatment services among women in the community. Am J Psychiatry, 161(10), 1790–1797. https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.161.10.1790
Wu, Li-Tzy, and Chris L. Ringwalt. “Alcohol dependence and use of treatment services among women in the community.Am J Psychiatry 161, no. 10 (October 2004): 1790–97. https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.161.10.1790.
Wu L-T, Ringwalt CL. Alcohol dependence and use of treatment services among women in the community. Am J Psychiatry. 2004 Oct;161(10):1790–7.
Wu, Li-Tzy, and Chris L. Ringwalt. “Alcohol dependence and use of treatment services among women in the community.Am J Psychiatry, vol. 161, no. 10, Oct. 2004, pp. 1790–97. Pubmed, doi:10.1176/ajp.161.10.1790.
Wu L-T, Ringwalt CL. Alcohol dependence and use of treatment services among women in the community. Am J Psychiatry. 2004 Oct;161(10):1790–1797.
Journal cover image

Published In

Am J Psychiatry

DOI

ISSN

0002-953X

Publication Date

October 2004

Volume

161

Issue

10

Start / End Page

1790 / 1797

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • United States
  • Substance-Related Disorders
  • Substance Abuse Treatment Centers
  • Sex Factors
  • Psychotropic Drugs
  • Psychiatry
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Prevalence
  • Population Density
  • Patient Acceptance of Health Care