WeCan! A 12-month evaluation of a drug court treatment program serving females addicted to prescription drugs

Prescription drug abuse represents a national public health concern. This study reports on 12-month outcomes of a drug court treatment program for 102 female offenders addicted to prescription drugs. The program utilized two evidence-based treatment models (i.e., Motivational Enhancement Therapy/Cognitive Behavioral Therapy-12 and Seeking Safety). In addition, participants were required to attend monthly judicial reviews, weekly AA/NA groups, and two random drug screens per week. Participants were interviewed at baseline and 12-month follow-up. Analyses examined self-reported substance use, traumatic experiences, criminal justice involvement, readiness to change, and therapeutic alliance. Participants reported significant decreases in substance use, increased readiness to change, high therapeutic alliance, and significantly fewer arrest charges 12-months after enrollment compared to 12-months before intake. Results suggest that the drug court program was successful in reducing substance use and other ancillary measures for female participants with prescription drug abuse issues. Implications for policy and future research are discussed.