Alcohol Treatment for Women in Rural Areas

Alcohol abuse problems are as prevalent in rural areas as they are in more urban settings. Despite the similarity in incidence, providing alcohol abuse treatment services is more challenging in rural versus urban settings. There are unique barriers to offering treatment to women in rural locations that are not present in metropolitan locales. These barriers are related to economics, existing health care providers and services, environmental considerations, cultural norms, and personal perceptions. In this article, treatment challenges that are specifically relevant to women in rural areas are explored along with a new three-tiered treatment delivery model.