Prevention and treatment in prison law: women prisoners drug dependence in Spain

The penitentiary drug dependence treatment for women has been traditionally generic (applied for most masculine penitentiary) and with few differentiating empiric studies in an spanish level.Based on a regulatory framework, this research focuses on the study of the main elements of risk and protection implied in the relation between the drug dependant female prisoners and the treatment programs, as well as the recovery processes, in order to propose specific actions.The research has a multimethod approach, inserted within the Project I+D+I named “Mujeres reclusas drogodependientes y su reinserción social. Estudio socioeducativo y propuestas de acción” [EDU2009-13408], with a national sample of second and third degree (Central Government and Community of Catalonia), corresponding to an estimate of 15% of the female prisoners nationally. 538 valid questionnaires, 61 semi-structured interviews has been obtained, in which informatic analytical methods, specific programs for quantitative data (SPSS, V. 15 y 20), and analytical content methods for qualitative data has been applied. The analysis has been developed before and after the internment, including four profiles of female prisioners (AA: Active addicted (8'20%), EX: ex addicted (EX: 67'21%), NA: non addicted (NA: 14.75%) and PMM (9.84%) addicted within methadone maintenance programs ).Among the main results found, it is relevant to mention the elements of risk related to the absence of participation of ex addicted women in relapse prevention programs. In fact, this is a relevant issue since 70% of the women are ex addicted. There is a large number of women not receiving any treatment in prision and not participating in any program due to lack of information, mistrust and overlap with other activities. Aditionally, theres is a perception of gender discrimination towards the access and permanece of women in the programs, compared with men. Also, within the main elements of protection, it has been found that most women access a program motivated by family pressure, and in some cases situations such as motherhood and certain personal health issues were determinant factors for a women to access a program.Finally, a model PROSO –MD (Socio-educational Program for Drug Dependant Women) according to use pattern is proposed to be implemented in a penitentiary field, adapted to the characteristics and realities of the women implied and developing specific a proposal for ex addicted women.