About this Research Topic

Background

Research that focuses specifically on women’s experiences of alcohol and/or drug use is still in its infancy, because historically, the study of addiction focused predominately on men, with women’s use only acknowledged when it impacted their caregiving role. As such, research explains women’s substance use in relation to men’s use, often as a minority population or demonstrating differences that are subsequently not explored. However, substance using populations are not homogenous, and gender affects how individuals experience drug and alcohol use, and access treatment and support.

There is, therefore, a need for more extensive evidence addressing women’s experiences of substance use, their access to positive support, and their transitions towards recovery. As such, research must continue to create a dialogue on the topic so as to expand knowledge, challenge prejudices and learn to support women in a way that is specific to their needs.

Epidemiological and quantitative comparison evidence highlights gender differences but fails to explain these differences or develop appreciation of the underlying factors that would aid transition to recovery. As such, the goal of this Research Topic is to present evidence, theory and debate around women’s experience of substance use and explore a range of contexts specific to them as women. This may include perceived barriers to treatment and support, impact from problem substance use and others’ use, specific intervention needs, and an examination of research and policy that may better inform and support practitioners to meet women’s needs.

Women’s experiences of race, ethnicity, sexuality and disability can impact how they experience problematic substance use and subsequent support. Likewise, their experiences of motherhood, poverty, mental ill-health and abuse influences how they encounter substance use and navigate support and treatment.

This Research Topic will therefore tackle this heterogeneity by amplifying intersectional research that explores women’s use, create a dialogue on the topic so as to expand knowledge, challenge prejudices and learn to support women in a way that is specific to their needs.

We are particularly interested in articles on women’s specific experiences and needs. We therefore welcome qualitative and mixed method articles that report on primary studies, discussion papers, case studies or quantitative studies that illustrate women’s experiences, specifically:

• Qualitative participatory and co-productive work on women’s experiences of substance use;
• Evidence from women with lived experience of substance use;
• Debate and discussion on methodological challenges in representing and ‘hearing’ women’s voices;
• Policy and practice contexts relating to supporting women with problem substance use (either their use or that of others);
• Quantitative studies specifically examining women’s treatment and support needs, barriers to support and treatment;
• Under-researched contexts of women’s substance use (i.e. the criminal justice system, homelessness, (un)employment, cultural and environmental burdens);
• Studies on the impact of race, ethnicity, sexuality or disability on women’s substance use.

Keywords: women, alcohol, drugs, recovery, treatment access

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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