Note from the Editor

CrossCurrents

Research has clearly identified that the needs and issues of women with substance use issues differ from those of men. Until now, women’s substance use has received less attention, in part because women’s use has not been as high as men’s. But levels of use in some substance use categories have become equal among women and men, with women’s use higher for prescription drugs like benzodiazepines. We are also becoming more aware of how substance use among women compared with men is associated with more serious health consequences.

A 2004 United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime report on treatment and care of women with illicit substance use problems makes a strong case for gender-specific prevention, outreach, treatment and harm reduction approaches. Here in Canada, a new publication is highlighting this need for using a gender lens in designing policies and services. Highs and Lows: Canadian Perspectives on Women and Substance Use is a collaboration between the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto and the British Columbia Centre of Excellence for Women’s Health (BCCEWH). With contributions from experts and women across Canada, the book offers strategies for improving practice and developing policy.

This issue of CrossCurrents adds to the voices calling for action on women’s substance use. Nancy Poole, a senior researcher with the BCCEWH and co-editor of Highs and Lows, discusses how a new web-based national project is targeting key issues in women’s substance use. Debbie Bang, Kathryn Irwin-Seguin and Nancy Bradley, all of whom work with women’s addiction programs, paint a picture of what the ideal treatment program, following best practices, would look like.

Pregnancy and mothering raise unique issues for women. An article about women-centred approaches to fetal alcohol spectrum disorder prevention illustrates how we are shifting from traditional approaches, which blame women and ignore the context of their substance use. A story about integrating children into substance use treatment discusses what some programs are doing to overcome the significant barrier that child care often presents for women in accessing or completing treatment.

We also present one young woman’s success story in moving from the streets to becoming an award-winning social worker. Other articles explore harm reduction among sex trade workers, concurrent treatment for eating disorders and substance use and the challenges of treating women with histories of trauma. Lorraine Greaves, executive director of the BCCEWH, closes the issue, with her Last Word column that asks why smoking rates among teen girls remain high.

Enjoy this thought-provoking issue. Send us your comments, suggestions and ideas. Write a letter to the editor expressing your thoughts on our stories. It is your input that furthers the dialogue around mental health and addiction issues.

Hema Zbogar
tel 416 595-6714
hema_zbogar@camh.net

 

 

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