An Exploration of Mothers' Successful Completion of Family-Centered Residential Substance Use Treatment.

Behavioral health and substance use centers have started focusing efforts on creating, adopting, and implementing evidence-based practices and programs that effectively address the needs of women and, particularly, mothers entering treatment with children. However, women with substance use disorders (SUDs) remain an underserved and understudied population; even less studied are the complexities and unique SUD treatment needs of women who have children. Family therapists' systemic training is a valued approach in conceptualizing and implementing treatment for mothers with SUDs and their families. This study explored the construct of mothering children during family-centered substance use treatment using a transcendental phenomenological approach. Analysis revealed themes related to motherhood, parenting, and support for mothers and children. Two themes emerged from the data: (a) grappling with motherhood and addiction leading to the decision for treatment and (b) specific aspects of the treatment program conducive to motherhood. Results indicated the positive impact of mothers' experiences in family-centered substance use treatment, aligning with previous literature that suggests mothers are more engaged in treatment when their children remain in their care. The insights gleaned from the participants in this study provide suggestions for further improving programming that supports mothers and their children during the recovery process. Treatment considerations are offered for family therapists working with mothers with SUDs and their families.

Los centros para la salud conductual y el consumo de sustancias han comenzado a centrar sus esfuerzos en la creación, la adopción y la implementación de prácticas y programas factuales que aborden eficazmente las necesidades de las mujeres y, particularmente, de las madres que ingresan en un tratamiento con hijos. Sin embargo, las mujeres con trastorno por consumo de sustancias siguen siendo una población marginada y poco estudiada; y aun menos estudiadas son las complejidades y las necesidades exclusivas de tratamiento para los trastornos por consumo de sustancias de las mujeres que tienen hijos. La capacitación sistémica de los terapeutas familiares es un enfoque valioso a la hora de conceptualizar e implementar el tratamiento para las madres con trastornos por consumo de sustancias y sus familias. Este estudio analizó el constructo de la maternidad durante el tratamiento para el consumo de sustancias centrado en la familia utilizando un enfoque fenomenológico trascendental. El análisis reveló temas relacionados con la maternidad, la paternidad y el apoyo para las madres y los hijos. De los datos surgieron dos temas: (a) la lucha con la maternidad y la adicción conducente a la decisión de recibir tratamiento y (b) aspectos específicos del programa de tratamiento favorables para la maternidad. Los resultados indicaron el efecto positivo de las experiencias de las madres en el tratamiento para el consumo de sustancias centrado en la familia en consonancia con bibliografía anterior que sugiere que las madres se comprometen más con el tratamiento cuando sus hijos quedan a su cuidado. Las apreciaciones recogidas de los participantes de este estudio ofrecen sugerencias para mejorar más las programaciones que apoyen a las madres y a sus hijos durante el proceso de recuperación. Se ofrecen consideraciones sobre el tratamiento para los terapeutas familiares que trabajan con madres con trastornos por abuso de sustancias y sus familias.

Descriptive study of older adults encountered by crisis intervention team (CIT) law enforcement officers.

Increasingly, older adults who experience a mental health crisis come to the attention of crisis intervention team (CIT) law enforcement officers. These encounters are due largely to a lack of local mental health care resources. With few options available, individuals call 911 for assistance when an older adult exhibits alarming behavior. This article provides a profile of older adults encountered by CIT officers, identifies the reasons for the 911 call for assistance, and finds what predictors are associated with outcomes of those encounters. We found that these older adults were mostly female, Caucasian, diagnosed with depression, and attempting or threatening suicide.

Are immigrants more likely than native-born Americans to perpetrate intimate partner violence?

Despite an emerging body of research indicating that immigrants are less likely than native-born Americans to engage in crime and antisocial behavior, less attention has focused specifically on intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration among immigrant populations. We address this gap by using data from Wave II of the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC) and compare immigrants from Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin America to native-born Americans with respect to multiple forms of IPV. After controlling for an extensive array of confounds, results indicate that in the aggregate, immigrants are significantly more likely to perpetrate IPV. However, examination of major world regions indicates these results are driven by Latin American immigrants. Immigrants from Asia, Africa, and Europe report a lower prevalence of IPV perpetration than native-born Americans. This study extends prior research on the immigrant paradox and suggests that future studies take into account regional heterogeneity when examining IPV and other forms of violence in immigrant populations.