Women less likely to attend addiction treatment services

The perceived fear of losing children is a major barrier to women accessing treatment for drug and alcohol addiction, a new study has revealed.

According to the research, there is an urgent need for the expansion of gender-sensitive addiction treatment approaches that support the needs of women.

The study by a team at Trinity College Dublin (TCD) noted that while the number of women reporting drug and alcohol use in Ireland is increasing, women are less likely than men to attend drug and alcohol treatment services.

Researchers set out to gain a better insight into the experiences of women with drug and alcohol treatment needs in Ballyfermot and Tallaght in Dublin. Studies that focus on women accessing treatment are limited, particularly when it comes to the topic of why women do not attend treatment.

The researchers pointed out that there are gender differences in the way that men and women experience substance misuse – from substance use initiation through to treatment outcomes.

They noted that while accessing treatment can be difficult for both men and women, women consistently under-present to treatment services.

In Ireland, most people who use drugs are treated in the community and only three in 10 people accessing services for substance use are female.

The researchers said that it is likely that the small number of women receiving substance use treatment is related to sociocultural factors, including stigma, economic disadvantage, maternal responsibilities, low levels of family support and the inability of services to respond to their complex needs.

Furthermore, specific groups of women who use drugs, such as mothers, victims of domestic violence and prostitutes report particular difficulties in accessing substance use treatment services.

“While both men and women who use drugs experience stigma, the experience is gendered due to drug dependence challenging social and cultural expectations of women as nurturers, mothers, daughters, sisters, and caregivers.

“Women who use drugs report significantly higher levels of stigma than men. Fear of stigmatising experiences is one of the most reported factors hindering women who use drugs from accessing substance use treatment,” commented Dr Jo-Hanna Ivers, an assistant professor in addiction at TCD’s School of Medicine.

The study found that the most significant barrier to accessing treatment was a lack of access to childcare services, and the perceived fear of losing children was a major barrier to treatment.

A high number of key stakeholders who took part also noted how the responsibility of childcare was most often left to mothers.

The study also found that women with substance problems typically described a childhood marked by poverty, bereavement and family adversity. Prior exposure to trauma was also associated with problem drug use.

A report on the study made a number of recommendations, including:

-The development of an adequate trauma-informed response for women who use drugs

-The establishment of gender-transformative, integrated treatment and support services for women who use drugs

-The development of pathways for women to sustain recovery.

The report on the study can be viewed here.