CENTER ON SAMI

Elizabeth M. Tracy, Ph.D., LISW, ACSW

National Institute on Drug Abuse

July 2002 to June 2007

The objective of this pilot research project is to contribute to the understanding and development of social network interventions as a component of treatment for women with co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders. Establishing positive social support resources and rebuilding non substance-using social networks during recovery is an important and challenging feature of substance use treatment with clients who have dual disorders. The goals of this pilot study include the following:

• To examine the use of a social network mapping tool with women who have co-occurring substance use and mental disorders
• To examine and describe social network characteristics and the nature of perceived social support of women with co-occurring substance use and mental disorders
• To compare the social network characteristics and the nature of perceived social support among women who have co-occurring substance use and mental disorders and women who have a substance use disorder but not a co-occurring mental disorder

This pilot study draws upon the body of work that relates social networks, mental illness, and substance abuse treatment. Preliminary evidence suggests that women in substance abuse treatment have poor social support systems and that gaining a better understanding of women's connections with others may be central to treatment.