Examining Gender Differences in Factors Associated with Program Completion in a Statewide Drug Court Program

• In Event: Posters II

Abstract

Substance use among women has received limited attention because it has been viewed as a more predominant problem among males; however there is an increasing awareness that treatment needs for women and men are different. The study purpose was to examine factors which may uniquely impact females and males in completing drug court. Study participants were 534 drug court participants randomly selected from the larger Kentucky Drug Court (KDC) participant population (N = 4,881). Secondary data, including the program assessment, MIS, and CourtNet records were utilized to examine pre-program information as well as during program performance in relation to program completion. The female (n = 212) logistic regression analysis showed three variables were significantly associated with program completion: employment at baseline, intravenous opiate use, and conviction of a misdemeanor traffic crime before drug court. The male (n = 322) logistic regression analyses showed seven variables were significantly associated with program completion: outpatient treatment referrals, education, living with parents at baseline, short-term treatment referrals, number of positive drug screens, having a curfew sanction, and number of incarceration sanction days. This information can be used to identify ways to improve the drug court experience by making it more gender specific.

Authors

• Lisa Shannon, Morehead State University

• Afton Jackson Jones, Morehead State University

• Jennifer Newell, Morehead State University

• Elizabeth Perkins, Morehead State University