Women’s Intimate Partner Relationships and Post-Incarceration Treatment for Substance Abuse and Dependence in Puerto Rico: A Literature Review

• Rodríguez Madera, Sheilla ^[1] ; Martínez Sarson, Miluska T. ^[2] ; Figueroa Sánchez, Xiomara Y. ^[2] ; Pattatucci Aragón, Ángela ^[2]
  1. [1] Social Sciences Department Graduate School of Public Health University of Puerto Rico at Medical Sciences Campus
  2. [2] Center for Evaluation and Sociomedical Research Graduate School of Public Health University of Puerto Rico
• Localización: Revista Puertorriqueña de Psicología, ISSN-e 1946-2026, Vol. 23, Nº. 2, 2012 (Ejemplar dedicado a: Suplemento Especial)
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • With .3% of its inhabitants in prison, Puerto Rico has one of the highest incarceration rates in Latin America, and 43% of its population of incarcerated women report having problematic use of illicit drugs. As the War on Drugs has reached a global dimension with a surge in incarceration rates and disastrous consequences for the health of the poor, undertaking research on illegal substance abuse or dependence has become increasingly important in both the correctional and public health contexts. In this article, we articulate the role of qualitative methodology in developing a research agenda on intimate partner relationships and treatment design for substance abuse or dependence for women recently released from jail in Puerto Rico. Based on an extensive literature review, we identify six variables related to intimate partner relationships that have a direct impact on women’s health-related decision-making processes which could potentially affect treatment seeking and adherence: social support, communication, intimate partner violence, sexual intimacy, stigmatization, and partner’s illicit drug abuse or dependence.