Description

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is common among drug users, particularly among women. Those who suffer from both of these conditions also struggle more with both conditions and have a more difficult time meeting their treatment goals. Estimates also suggest that as many as 80% of women seeking treatment for drug abuse report lifetime histories of sexual and/or physical assault. These facts highlight the importance of finding effective treatments for this high-risk population. Early studies show Seeking Safety, a substance abuse treatment designed specifically for women with trauma, to be an option with great potential for this population. This study compares the effectiveness of adding Seeking Safety to standard substance abuse treatment to adding a control intervention, Women’s Health Education, to standard substance abuse treatment. The researchers will be looking at the effect of these treatment options on both substance use and the severity of the posttraumatic stress disorder. In addition, they will look at the results in relation to demographic and individual characteristics of those in the study.