Authors
Financing
No funding declared
30/06/2025
Women and drug addiction
abstract
Drug addiction has traditionally been viewed as a predominantly male phenomenon, leading to its study from a limited gender perspective. However, the rising prevalence of in substance use among women presents new challenges in understanding and addressing addictions. Despite some progress, studies that incorporate variables specific to female substance use remain scarce and require more focused attention. This review aims to synthesize the existing scientific evidence on the main characteristics of drug use among women. It analyzes aspects such as prevalence, underlying motivations, and the gender-specific effects and consequences of substance abuse. It also explores the structural and sociocultural barriers that women face in accessing, adhering to, and continuing addiction treatment. The literature shows that women are more biologically and psychologically vulnerable to developing substance use disorders, a phenomenon known as the telescoping effect. Furthermore, they face heightened levels of stigmatization, receive less social support, and present a high prevalence of trauma and comorbid mental disorders, i.e., dual pathology, factors that significantly hinder their access to detoxification and rehabilitation resources. In conclusion, there is an urgent need to incorporate a gender perspective into drug addiction prevention, research, and treatment strategies in order to improve therapeutic efficacy and promote health equity for women who use substances.
Keywords:
Women, addiction, substance use disorder, dual disorder, telescoping effect.