International Women’s Day

For International Women’s Day we have gathered information about how substance use uniquely impacts on women.

At a societal level, substance misuse is a male dominated area. However, women face distinctive issues when it comes to substance use, which are influenced by sex (differences based on biology) and gender (differences based on culturally defined roles for men and women).

Women often use substances differently than men, such as using smaller amounts of certain drugs for less time before they become dependent. Women will generally start drug use later than men, but development into addiction is quicker.

Women and men will both experience the effects and harms associated with drugs in different ways. Get the facts about women who use drugs below!

Women, substance use and dependency

Women appear to be more vulnerable than men to the adverse effects of alcohol and drug use on physical health
More men use illicit drugs but research has found that a greater number of women tend to use prescription drugs
Women have been found to develop alcohol-related health problems earlier than men
Women tend to experience more drug cravings are more likely to relapse after treatment
Of those in treatment, women often need support for handling the burdens of work, home care, child care, and other family responsibilities
Stigma can result in greater guilt and shame for women and for their families, and may lead to women being reluctant to seek treatment
Relationships are important in women’s lives. Drug-using men can play a role in females drug use and continuation of drug use, including risk of relapse
Women are generally more biologically susceptible than men to blood-borne infections. Women who use drugs also have gender-specific vulnerabilities to blood-borne infections (Pinkham et al., 2012).

Gender considerations and crack cocaine

Dependency rates: According to the EMCDDA (2018) every third person seeking treatment for crack cocaine related problems is a woman
Biological consideration: Hormones contribute to gendered differential response to crack cocaine use (NIDA, 2017)
High risk behaviours: A study by Rash and colleagues (2016) found that 90% of women using crack cocaine reported involvement in the sex trade as a means to fund their use and dependence on crack cocaine with the dominant entry route into sex work through friendships and peer networks
Gender responses: These gender differentials in crack cocaine use require careful consideration in the development of effective interventions (Risser et al., 2006)

Gender consideratuions and MDMA

Oestrogen can impact on experiences and risks associated with MDMA with more research required on this area
Research states that, more hallucinogen-like perceptual alterations can occur, particularly in women, women appear to be more susceptible to the effects of ecstasy than males due to a stronger serotoninenergic response and
Women are at significantly increased risk of developing ecstasy-associated hyponatremia compared with males

Mental health

While mental health difficulties affect both genders, it is widely accepted that women and men are affected by different problems and experience them in different ways
Among the general population, women are twice as likely as men to suffer from depression. With women who use drugs being at greater risk of experiencing higher rates anxiety, depression or post-traumatic stress disorder
Women’s mental health may suffer due to stigma as a result of substance use
In 2016, the rate of self-harm among the general population was 24% for women, higher than the male rate
Research in 2008 found that women (80%) are more likely than men (65%) to overdose on drugs as a method of deliberate self-harm
In Ireland, the proportion of drug related deaths has increased from 19% to 24% among women

Non-poison drug related deaths in Ireland

Since 2008 there has been a 113% increase in non-poisoning deaths among women compared to 58% for males.
Hangings have increased by 316% since 2008 (from 6 to 25 women), with a 56% increase since 2016 (compared to 8% for men). Other trauma deaths have increased by 60% since 2008 among women and with a 46% increase between 2016 and 2017.

Pregancy

Women may be reluctant to get help for substance use during or after pregnancy because of social stigma or the fear of losing their children
Drug Liaison Midwives can help reduce the stigma associated with treatment for pregnant people, provide access to treatment and maintain care pathways once established

Violence, assault and abuse

Women are more likely to be affected by domestic and sexual violence. Women impacted by domestic violence are several times more likely to self-harm, be suicidal, and misuse drugs or alcohol
Research has shown that a large proportion of women with substance use comcerns are victims of domestic violence as well as incest, rape, sexual assault and child physical abuse
An Irish study found that 4 out of 15 women who did not report being raped, took this decision largely because of the alcohol/drugs they had consumed

Rates of use

In 2016, 34.8 million women aged 15 to 64 are reported to have ever tried an illicit drug in the European Union
Irish data from 2019/20 found that males were more than twice as likely as women to report recent use of an illegal drug (10.2% versus 4.7%). However, the youngest age group (15–24 years) had the highest prevalence of drug use (18.5%), with little difference between males and women.
While women were much less likely to use illegal drugs, the prevalence of illegal drug use among women aged 15–24 years and 25–34 years has doubled since 2002–03.

New profiles of young women who use stimulant drugs

Irish data shows increases in the use of stimulant type drugs among young women. More information is needed on the profiles of this user group and their healthcare needs.

For information and support on drugs and alcohol visit: Drugs.ie or call the HSE Drugs and Alcohol Helpline on 1800 459 459 Monday to Friday 9:30 am - 5:30 pm

Posted by drugs.ie on 03/07 at 05:30 PM in

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