The lived experience of the chemically dependent female in treatment

This study utilized a phenomenological research design to investigate the day-to-day experiences of chemically dependent women in a gender specific treatment environment. The phenomenological method was used in order to add depth and detail to what is currently known about addicted women in treatment. Exit interviews were conducted on three women who have completed a treatment program in the Addiction Services division of a state psychiatric hospital. Interviews were tape recorded and took approximately two hours to complete. Tapes were transcribed and the interviews were analyzed for themes that represented the essence of the treatment experience for addicted women. The outcome of the study is a description of the treatment experience of these women to add to the scarce body of knowledge currently available on this subject so that appropriate, gender-specific treatment systems may be developed.