Female hard drug-users in crisis
Childhood traumas and survival strategies

by Carien Karsten, 1993

Introduction

Chapter 1Female hard drug-users

Chapter 2 A gender perspective on female drug-use

Chapter 3 Female drug-users in treatment

Chapter 4 Four survival strategies

Chapter 5 Empirical research on childhood traumas

Chapter 6 Empirical research on psychological characteristics

Summary, conclusions and recommendations

Acknowledgements

A long time ago, while working at the Sint Joris Gasthuis Psychiatric Hospital in the city of Delft, I was approached by the head of the behavioural psychotherapy division, Dr. M.G.T Kwee, who asked me, "Why don't you write a dissertation? I know some people who could help you, and it is really not that difficult".

Many years later, looking back, I wish to thank many people. I first wish to express my gratitude to the women who participated in this study as research subjects and the staff of the Women's Crisis Centre (VKC). It was not easy for them to accept "objective" research methods because, in their eyes, these methods reduced a person to the level of a case. I am therefore grateful that they put their objections aside and have supported this study. In particular I wish to thank my two former colleagues, Drs. Carla van der Bent en Drs. Margreth Bakx, who gathered data at admission, did the follow-up data-gathering and have contributed much to this study. For research and publication opportunities offered, I am obliged to Drs. Frits Knaack, former director of the Stichting Drugshulpverlening Amsterdam, now director of the NIAD, Utrecht. Time and support were provided by the Jellinekcentre. I am also grateful to Drs. Stef Horntje, psychiatrist at the Municipal Mental Health Service for his assessment of the files.

I wish to express my gratitude to pro£mr.dr. J. Soetenhorst-de Savornin Lohman, promotor of this study, for her active and stimulating support of this work, her promotion of the feminist angle and her valuable suggestions. For his stimulating and, at the same time, serious and critical involvement, I wish to thank prof.dr. B.P.R. Gersons, promotor of this study. I have learned much from his encouragement to me to write more succinctly and objectively. Appreciation is due to Dr. H. J. Duivenvoorden, methodologist, who gave me advice in statistical and methodological matters.

I am thankful to Neal Woodcock for his contribution to the English language of this manuscript.

I am looking forward to spending more time with my husband, children and family and I am thankful for their warm support during the past years.

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