Ups and downs of drug rehab among women: a qualitative study

Abstract

Background: According to recent studies, the number of women drug users is dramatically increasing. However, the information on the issue of drug rehab in women is not sufficient, and there are numerous traditional, organizational, political and cultural barriers to the provision of relevant information in this regard in Iran. This study, thus, aimed to explain the factors influencing the decision of these women to stop drug use. Methods: This qualitative study was conducted in two rehab camps of Isfahan (in Iran) on July to October 2017. Thirty participants (women drug users) were selected through purposive and theoretical sampling until data saturation was reached. Data collection was conducted through semi-structured interviews. The transcribed interviews were analyzed using conventional content analysis. Results: Based on the analysis of the obtained results, the women's experience of the ups and downs of stopping drug use yielded two themes and nine sub-themes. The themes were "the need for emancipation (the deviated path, being abused, compulsive drug use, acquaintance with God, a supportive family)" and "Sinking factors (non-assisting mates, proaddictive family, unawareness of assisting official organization and non-government organization, woman's lack of authority, ineffective opportunities)". Conclusions: It was concluded that addiction rehab strategies can lead to a brighter life for women drug users only when they are coupled with open-hearted assistance of the families and women specific rehab centers are established to help them meet their specific needs.

Helping Women Suffering from Drug Addiction: Needs, Barriers, and Challenges

“…The same is true in European countries, such as Spain [ 28 ] and Georgia, where researchers report extreme forms of stigmatization in the form of social hostility toward women suffering from drug use, intolerance on the part of their families, and lack of support from them, and even repression of users and, in the case of necessary hospitalization, being subjected to critical judgments by medical personnel [ 29 ]. Analogous difficulties were reported in studies conducted in Asian countries, such as Vietnam [ 30 ], India [ 31 ], Iran [ 5 ], and Indonesia [ 32 ].…”

“…The World Drug Report 2021 estimated that one in three users of psychoactive substances is female; the data confirm that the percentage of indications between men and women is becoming more similar, both in terms of the use of these drugs and reporting to drug treatment facilities [ 3 , 4 ]. Estimates indicate that the percentage of women using these substances ranges from 10% in Asian countries to 40% in European countries [ 5 ]. Data also confirm that deaths among female drug users are increasing [ 6 ].…”

“…The image established in the social space of men with an addiction problem differs significantly from that of women suffering from addiction, who face ostracism and stigmatization during the development of addiction and during treatment attempts [ 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 ]. Negative attitudes toward women experiencing addiction are related to the consequences attributed to women who use these substances, including unwanted pregnancy, prostitution, and transmission of infectious diseases [ 5 ]. In addition, women who are mothers suffering from addiction have a complicated situation stemming from the stigma they experience compared to non-mothers and the need to balance parental responsibilities with participation in therapy, often lasting several weeks in an inpatient setting [ 17 ].…”

Understanding women’s help-seeking for problematic and unhealthy alcohol use through the lens of complexity theory

“…During women’s help-seeking journeys, there is a correlation between unresolved or co-occurring psychiatric problems, delays in seeking help and relapse (NICE, 2010). This could be because of disruptive family environments, childhood parental abuse or neglect, prenatal genetic factors, biological environmental risk factors or negative re-enforcement from self-medicating that causes a cycle of drinking-related anxiety reduction and induction (Willinger et al , 2002; Gilbert et al , 2019; Boroumandfar et al , 2020) .…”

The Story of Female Sex Workers in The Shadow of Sex Work Coercion

“…[ 2 ] Sex work is not only rooted in social, psychological, political, and economic life[ 3 ] but also in mental disorders, family backgrounds, poverty, and lack of livelihood. [ 4 ]…”