Alcohol and other drug use among women seeking substance abuse treatment in the Western Cape, South Africa

Abstract

Despite a high prevalence of alcohol and other drug use (AOD) in South Africa, little is known about AOD use among women, including those in treatment centres, and changes in use over time. This knowledge is important for the development of gender-sensitive interventions for the prevention and treatment of AOD problems. We aimed to describe changes in patterns of AOD use among women who accessed specialist AOD treatment centres in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. Data were collected from 51 specialist AOD treatment centres participating in the South African Community Epidemiology Network on Drug Use between 2000 and 2013. A total of 74 368 treatment episodes were recorded for the period, of which 22% involved women. The proportion of women seeking treatment increased from 4% to 11% over time. The most common primary substance of abuse among this sample was alcohol, followed by methamphetamine. Multinomial logistic regression analyses showed that young coloured (mixed race) women were almost 18 times more likely than other women to report methamphetamine as their primary substance of abuse (RRR=17.80; 95% CI=13.18–24.04). More than a quarter of women reported poly-substance abuse. Women treated for heroin were significantly more likely to be white and younger than 25 years old (RRR=1.62; 95% CI=1.19–2.21). These data portray an increasing use of AOD treatment services by women; particularly for alcohol and methamphetamine use disorders. Additional investigations into the service needs of women utilising AOD treatment is warranted.

First-Rank Symptoms in Methamphetamine Psychosis and Schizophrenia

“…type stimulants [2,3] . Methamphetamine use has been associated with psychotic symptoms and admission to inpatient psychiatric facilities [4,5] .…”

HIV Risk Behavior Among Methamphetamine Users Entering Substance Abuse Treatment in Cape Town, South Africa

“…The number of methamphetamine users in the Western Cape has increased rapidly since 2000 (18, 19), and a recent community-based study of methamphetamine users found a very high prevalence of dependence on the drug (20). Among persons entering substance abuse treatment, the proportion reporting methamphetamine as their primary drug increased from 0.3% in 2002 to 42.3% in 2006; since then, methamphetamine has accounted for 40-50% of admissions (21, 22). Methamphetamine use in Cape Town is most common among “Coloured” persons, but the prevalence appears to be increasing among Black Africans (these terms originate from the apartheid era and are still used as demographic markers referring to people of mixed versus African ancestry, respectively).…”

“…Methamphetamine use in Cape Town is most common among “Coloured” persons, but the prevalence appears to be increasing among Black Africans (these terms originate from the apartheid era and are still used as demographic markers referring to people of mixed versus African ancestry, respectively). Among persons entering substance abuse treatment for methamphetamine in 2012, 84% were Coloured and 8% were Black (23). By 2014, this proportion had shifted to 70% Coloured and 17% Black (24).…”

“…Among persons entering substance abuse treatment for methamphetamine in 2012, 84% were Coloured and 8% were Black (23). By 2014, this proportion had shifted to 70% Coloured and 17% Black (24). …”

“…In response to the growing methamphetamine problem in the Western Cape of South Africa, the City of Cape Town has launched six outpatient substance abuse treatment sites in existing primary healthcare clinics to service residents living in peri-urban township communities (22). To date, HIV risk behaviors among methamphetamine users accessing these services has not been examined.…”