Substance use and social outcomes among participants in perinatal alcohol and drug treatment.

In recent years comprehensive, woman-centered alcohol and other drug (AOD) treatment programs for pregnant and parenting women have increased in number, despite a scarcity of information about their effectiveness. In response, an evaluation study was undertaken to document the behavioral and social outcome among a sample of women enrolled in AOD treatment through a California network of perinatal treatment services. A sample of 591 women were interviewed shortly before leaving treatment about their pretreatment and current treatment experiences, and 460 of them completed a follow-up interview 6 months later. Areas of positive change observed included reductions in AOD use, maintenance of some kind of treatment contact after discharge from the perinatal treatment program, reductions in criminal activity, and reductions in social problems. These findings suggest that comprehensive programs are effective at promoting recovery and positive social changes for pregnant and parenting women and their children.