Predominantly female caseloads: Identifying organizational correlates in private substance abuse treatment centers

Abstract

This study used a national sample of private substance abuse treatment centers to identify the organizational attributes characterizing facilities with a predominantly female caseload. Data were drawn from the National Treatment Center Study, a nationally representative study of private-sector alcohol and drug abuse treatment centers (N = 365). Bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to explore which organizational characteristics are associated with higher percentages of women in treatment. Private substance abuse treatment facilities were more likely to have a predominantly female caseload if they (1) offered childcare programs, (2) had a higher percentage of families participating in treatment, (3) treated psychiatric disorders, (4) employed a greater percentage of counselors with at least a master's degree, (5) received a higher proportion of referrals from mental health sources and a lower proportion of referrals from workplace-based referral sources, and (6) accepted higher proportions of Medicare and/or Medicaid clients.