Women’s views on barriers and facilitators for seeking alcohol and drug treatment in Belgium

Abstract

Aims: Although treatment barriers are different for men and women, research is dominated by males’ and practitioners’ perspectives rather than women’s voices. The purpose of this study in Belgium was to identify and obtain a better understanding of the barriers and facilitators for seeking treatment as experienced by substance (ab)using women themselves. Methods: In-depth interviews were conducted with 60 female substance users who utilise(d) outpatient and/or residential treatment services. A content analysis was performed on women’s personal accounts of previous treatment experiences as well as their experiences with services along the continuum of care, resulting in practical implications for the organisation of services. Results: Female substance users experience various overlapping – and at times competing – barriers and facilitators when seeking treatment and utilising services. For most women, the threat of losing custody of their children is an essential barrier to treatment, whereas for a significant part of the participants it serves as a motivation to seek help. Also, women report social stigma in private as well as professional contexts as a barrier to treatment. Women further ask for a holistic approach to treatment, which stimulates the healing process of body, mind and spirit, and emphasise the importance of feeling safe in treatment. Participants suggested several changes that could encourage treatment utilisation. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate the need for a gender-sensitive approach within alcohol and drug services that meets the needs of female substance users, as well as gender-sensitivity within prevention and awareness-raising campaigns, reducing the stigma and facilitating knowledge and awareness among women and society.

The Strengths and Barriers Recovery Scale (SABRS): Relationships Matter in Building Strengths and Overcoming Barriers

“…In their study of mental health recovery among people labelled as not criminally responsible, Aga et al (2021) found that connectedness is central to the recovery experience, including a sense of belonging that is linked to active engagement in social groups and society at large. Taking care of children has been identified as a major barrier to seeking treatment for women (because of concerns of involvement of social services and the perceived threat of child removal), as well as an important factor promoting treatment retention and recovery in mother-child programs (Neale et al, 2018;Andersson et al, 2020;Schamp et al, 2020), where reunification with children or retaining custody of children can be a strong motivation to strive for recovery.…”

Gender, Addiction, and Removal of Children Into Care

“…Alcohol use is more socially acceptable ( 48 ) and risk to children from alcohol might therefore attract less stigma than drug use despite the fact that prenatal alcohol use is associated with more harm than prenatal drug use ( 49 ). Women report experiencing, or perceiving they experience, greater stigma than men due to their addiction issues especially when mothers or pregnant ( 17 , 39 , 50 , 51 ). The fear of increased stigma and concerns about the removal of children can act as a barrier to pregnant women or mothers accessing addiction and recovery services ( 51 ) which delays treatment, placing these women and their children at increased risk of harm.…”

“I Grew Up Amidst Alcohol and Drugs:” a Qualitative Study on the Lived Experiences of Parental Substance Use Among Adults Who Developed Substance Use Disorders Themselves

“…Since this transfer of powers, the Flemish government puts increased emphasis on recovery-oriented and community-based services and care as an alternative to institutionalization (69,70). In recent years, the government gradually upscaled funding for substance use prevention and treatment services, including outpatient and inpatient programs for parents with SUDs and children-albeit limited- (71)(72)(73), and harm reduction initiatives (74).…”