Talking about women and drugs means talking about more than substances. Women with a substance use problem carry more stigma, tend to seek help later and often face caring responsibilities, financial dependence or violence that shape the whole process. Treatment with a gender perspective takes this reality into account instead of applying a model designed for men.
Women and drugs: why substance use is not the same
For decades, addiction treatment was designed around the experience of men, who made up most of the people seeking help. That pushed into the background issues that mainly affect women:
- The body responds differently. With the same amount of alcohol, women usually reach higher blood concentrations, and some damage to the liver, heart or brain can appear sooner. Find out more about alcohol addiction.
- Faster progression. For many women, the path from first use to dependence and its complications is shorter.
- A bigger role for psychotropic medication. Long-term use of tranquillisers and sleeping pills is more common among women, often starting with a prescription and without anyone seeing it as a problem (see psychotropic medication addiction).
- Underlying emotional distress. Anxiety, depression or trauma often go hand in hand with substance use, which sometimes begins as a form of relief. When they occur together, this is known as dual diagnosis.
- More hidden use. Society judges women who drink or use drugs more harshly, which encourages them to do so alone and at home.
Women and addiction: the barriers to asking for help
Many women take years to seek help, and hardly ever because they have not noticed the problem. The most common reasons are:
- Fear of being judged as bad mothers, bad partners or bad daughters.
- Fear that their substance use will affect custody of their children.
- Having no one to look after the people who depend on them while they are in treatment.
- A partner who also uses, or who controls, pressures or punishes any attempt to change.
- The discomfort of talking about intimate matters, such as sexuality, motherhood or abuse, in groups made up almost entirely of men.
If treatment does not take these barriers into account, women often stay silent or drop out. That silence is precisely what a gender perspective tries to prevent.
What a gender perspective in addiction means
Applying a gender perspective in addiction means understanding substance use in the light of the roles, expectations and inequalities that women and men experience. In practice it involves:
- Asking about the whole story: motherhood, relationships, work, caring responsibilities and any experiences of violence.
- Offering women-only spaces where they can speak freely.
- Working on self-esteem and guilt, which tend to be especially intense.
- Coordinating, where necessary, with social services, mental health services or services for victims of violence.
Addiction and gender-based violence
Substance use and violence often go together. Some women start using, or use more, to endure abuse; others are controlled through the substance or see their addiction used to discredit them. Violence can be psychological, physical or sexual, and can come from a partner or from their own family.
If you are experiencing gender-based violence, you can call 016, the Spanish helpline for gender-based violence, a free and confidential information and advice service. If you are in immediate danger, call 112, the European emergency number. Having a substance use problem does not take away your right to protection and help.
FSC’s Women and Addiction Programme
At the Fundación Salud y Comunidad (FSC), women make up 25% of the people treated for substance use, and in recent years the number of women seeking treatment has grown significantly. In response, a specific programme was created that approaches addiction from women’s experience. It includes:
- Individual psychotherapeutic support, to take time to assess the relationship with the substance (whether it is use, misuse or addiction), understand what keeps it going and strengthen motivation to change.
- Women’s psychotherapy group, to talk about what is hard to say elsewhere: loneliness, lack of understanding from those around them, the demands of motherhood and balancing work and family, damaged self-esteem or experiences of violence.
- Psychiatric care, to provide guidance and assess whether medication would help.
- Espai Ariadna, a residential service offering comprehensive care for women, on their own or with their children, who need a safe environment in which to deal with gender-based violence and substance dependence at the same time.
For the people close to them there is the family support programme.
When to ask for help
There is no need to wait until you hit rock bottom. It is worth seeking help if you notice that:
- You drink, take pills or use other substances to sleep, calm your anxiety or get through the day.
- You do it in secret or worry that someone will find out.
- Your substance use is affecting your health, your work or your care of the people who depend on you.
If you take tranquillisers or drink alcohol every day, do not stop suddenly on your own: abrupt withdrawal can be dangerous and should be done under medical supervision. At the free first appointment in Barcelona we listen to you without judgement and work out with you what help you need. You can call +34 93 424 04 00.
Frequently asked questions
Why is a women-only addiction programme needed?
Because many women do not feel comfortable talking about motherhood, sexuality or violence in groups made up almost entirely of men, and end up staying silent or leaving treatment. A space of their own makes it easier to build trust.
Do women get hooked on alcohol or drugs more quickly?
The female body is more sensitive to some effects of alcohol and other substances, and in many women dependence and its complications appear in less time. That is why it is best to seek help early, without waiting for the problem to become serious.
Can I ask for help if I am pregnant or have young children?
Yes, and the sooner the better. During pregnancy no amount of alcohol or drugs is considered safe, and stopping some substances requires medical supervision.
What should I do if I am experiencing violence and also have a substance use problem?
Call 016, the free and confidential Spanish helpline for gender-based violence, or 112 if you are in danger. Both situations can be addressed at the same time: FSC runs Espai Ariadna, a residential service for women, on their own or with their children, who need a safe environment.