THREE GROUP COUNSELING SESSIONS WERE CONDUCTED EACH WEEK WITH 186 FEMALE INMATES HAVING HISTORIES OF DRUG ABUSE. MEMBERS WERE SELECTED ON THE BASIS OF THEIR MOTIVATION AND NEED FOR DRUG COUNSELING. MEMBERSHIP WAS VOLUNTARY AND EACH GROUP HAD 6 TO 13 PARTICIPANTS. THE GROUPS WERE CONDUCTED IN AN ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH THE MEMBERS WERE TOTALLY FREE TO EXPRESS THEIR FEELINGS AND EXPLORE WHATEVER TOPICS OR ISSUES THEY WISHED. THE FOLLOWING STAGES OCCURRED IN THE GROUPS: SUPPORT OF CURRENT LIFESTYLES; ANGER AT AUTHORITY; SELF-REVELATION; WORKING THROUGH PROBLEMS; NEW WAYS OF RELATING, AND TERMINATION. MOST OF THE GROUPS PROGRESSED THROUGH THESE STAGES IN SOMEWHAT REGULAR SEQUENCE, AND MEMBERS APPEARED TO BENEFIT FROM THEIR GROUP PARTICIPATION. THE FEEDBACK THEY RECEIVED SEEMED TO HELP THEM BE MORE REALISTIC AND HONEST WITH THEMSELVES AND GAIN A NEW PERSPECTIVE ON THEIR BEHAVIOR WITH OTHERS. IT IS STATED THAT CERTAIN PRECONDITIONS PROBABLY SHOULD EXIST IN A PRISON BEFORE THIS TYPE OF COUNSELING CAN BE CONDUCTED SUCCESSFULLY. GROUPS SHOULD NOT BE IMPEDED BY CUSTODY OR OTHER INSTITUTIONAL PERSONNEL AND GROUPS SHOULD BE CONDUCTED IN PRIVACY AND CONFIDENTIALITY. AT LEAST 10 SESSIONS ARE REQUIRED FOR INMATES TO DEVELOP THE TRUST NEEDED FOR OPEN DISCUSSION OF FEELINGS. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (MJW)