Home > About Health Canada > Reports & Publications > Canada's Drug Strategy Publications > Best Practices - Early Intervention, Outreach & Community Linkages for Women with Substance Use Problems

Best Practices - Early Intervention, Outreach and Community Linkages for Women with Substance Use Problems

2006
ISBN: 0-662-42819-6
Cat. No.: H128-1/06-460E
HC Pub.: 4658

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(620K)

Executive Summary

1.	Introduction
	1.1	Methodology
	1.2	Scope and Limitations

2.	Literature Review
	2.1	Introduction
	2.2	Gender Differences
		2.2.1	Physiological Differences
		2.2.2	Patterns of Use
		2.2.3	Social Context and Relationships
	2.3	Barriers to Accessing Intervention Services for Problem Substance Use
		2.3.1	Experiences of Violence
		2.3.2	Stigmatization
		2.3.3	Shame and Guilt
		2.3.4	Lack of Social Support
		2.3.5	Fear of Repercussions
		2.3.6	Decreased Hope
	2.4	Specific Client-related Considerations and Needs
		2.4.1	Pregnant Women
		2.4.2	Women with Children
		2.4.3	Women with Concurrent Mental Health Problems
		2.4.4	Homeless and Transient Women
		2.4.5	Rural Women
		2.4.6	Injection Drug Use
		2.4.7	Aboriginal Women
		2.4.8	Ethnic Minority Women
		2.4.9	Senior Women
		2.4.10	Sex Trade Workers
		2.4.11	Women in Conflict with the Law
	2.5	Early Intervention
		2.5.1	Screening for Substance Use
		2.5.2	Screening for Readiness to Change
		2.5.3	Brief Interventions
		2.5.4	Motivational Interviewing
		2.5.5	Brief Negotiation Interview
		2.5.6	Family Participation in Early Intervention Approaches
		2.5.7	Self-help Resources
		2.5.8	Settings for Early Intervention
		2.5.9	Specialized Consultation and Training for Health Care Providers
	2.6	Outreach
		2.6.1	Location of Outreach Services
		2.6.2	Structuring Outreach Interventions
		2.6.3	Outreach Personnel
		2.6.4	Key Outreach Activities
		2.6.5	Research Related to Outreach to Women
	2.7	Community Linkages
		2.7.1	Relevant Community-based Linkages for Women
		2.7.2	Benefits Associated with Developing Community Linkages
		2.7.3	Service Linkage Models
		2.7.4	Establishing Links with Health Care Providers
		2.7.5	Establishing Links with Other Community Services
		2.7.6	Key Challenges in the Development of Community Linkages

3.	Interviews with Key Experts
	3.1.	Selection of Key Experts
	3.2	Key Expert Interview Process
	3.3	Key Client Considerations
		3.3.1	Circumstances and Needs of Women with Substance Use Problems
		3.3.2	Service Delivery Considerations for Specific Groups of Women
	3.4	Early Intervention and Outreach Approaches
		3.4.1	Theoretical or Applied Orientations for Early Intervention and Outreach
		3.4.2	Early Intervention Approaches
		3.4.3	Outreach Approaches
		3.4.4	Roles for Individuals Supporting Early Intervention and Outreach
		3.4.5	Evaluation of Early Intervention and Outreach Strategies
	3.5	Community Linkages
		3.5.1	Essential Community-based Services and Supports
		3.5.2	Barriers to Linking Community-based Programs and Treatment Services
		3.5.3	Working Toward Coordinated Service Delivery
		3.5.4	Strategies for Promoting Effective Consultation and Community Linkages
		3.5.5	Gaps and Inconsistencies in Services or Policies
		3.5.6	Challenges and Strengths of Integrative Approaches

4.	Focus Groups
	4.1	Introduction
	4.2	Participant Demographics
	4.3	Key Challenges: Priority Concerns
		4.3.1	Accessing Treatment Services
		4.3.2	Recognizing Problem Substance Use
		4.3.3	Securing Personal Supports
		4.3.4	Coping with Difficult Emotions
		4.3.5	Obtaining Essential Treatment Information and Support
		4.3.6	Maintaining Treatment Gains
		4.3.7	Experiencing the Fear of Losing Children
		4.3.8	Ensuring Confidentiality
	4.4	Additional Challenges
		4.4.1	Addressing Negative Stereotypes
		4.4.2	Coping with Employment Issues and Financial Challenges
		4.4.3	Experiencing Disrespect
		4.4.4	Living with Health and Safety Concerns
	4.5	Early Intervention
		4.5.1	Intervene Early with Adolescents
		4.5.2	Enhance Community Awareness and Knowledge
		4.5.3	Foster and Maintain Sources of Support
		4.5.4	Provide Individual Counselling Services
		4.5.5	Implement Community-based Early Intervention Programs
		4.5.6	Maintain Parental Bonds
		4.5.7	Provide Toll-free Help Lines
		4.5.8	Ask Screening Questions
	4.6	Outreach Services
		4.6.1	Enhance Community Service Provider Capacity to Reach Out
		4.6.2	Increase Awareness of Community Resources and Referral Processes
		4.6.3	Enhance Accessibility of Services
		4.6.4	Foster Collaborative Actions
		4.6.5	Strengthen Advocacy for Gender-specific Approaches
	4.7	Community Services and Linkages
		4.7.1	Support Groups
		4.7.2	Child Care Services
		4.7.3	Service Descriptions
		4.7.4	Crisis Intervention Services
		4.7.5	Housing and Shelter
		4.7.6	Community-based Educational Programs
		4.7.7	Transition Supports and Aftercare Programs

5.	Best Practice Statements
	5.1	Introduction
	5.2	General Considerations
	5.3	Screening Processes
	5.4	Early Intervention Strategies
	5.5	Outreach Services
	5.6	Relevant Community-based Support Programming
	5.7	Community Linkages and Integrative Approaches

6.	Future Research

	References

	Appendix
		Appendix A: Document Sections Supporting the Best Practice Statements

	List of Tables
		Table 1: Practical Questions About Alcohol and Other Drug Use
		Table 2: The Evidence for Brief Intervention
		Table 3: A Menu of Interviewing Strategies
		Table 4: Potential Benefits of Linking Primary Care and Substance Abuse Care Services
		Table 5: Geographical Distribution of Key Experts
		Table 6: Professional Roles of Key Experts
		Table 7: Academic Background of Key Experts
		Table 8: Focus Group Participant Demographics


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	Last Updated: 2006-08-03		Important Notices

Best Practices - Early Intervention, Outreach and Community Linkages for Women with Substance Use Problems

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