SA women can face racism and discrimination from mainstream healthcare providers , peers , and society .
Some have faced situations where the language used was hurtful or judgmental . This contributes to a sense of isolation and a lack of trust in the healthcare system , making it more difficult to seek help and engage in the recovery process . Some specific recommendations that may be helpful include :
>> Community-based support SA women may benefit from community-based support groups and resources that address their unique cultural and societal pressures . These groups can provide a safe space for women to share their experiences and receive support from others who understand their struggles .
>> Culturally sensitive therapy Therapy should be tailored to meet the specific needs of SA women . This may involve using culturally sensitive approaches that consider the impact of culture and tradition on mental health .
>> Family involvement Involving family members in the treatment process can help to address cultural and societal barriers to recovery – they can be educated and encouraged to provide support to their loved ones .
>> Empowerment and advocacy SA women may benefit from empowerment and advocacy programmes that help them to assert their needs and boundaries . These can provide education and resources on self-care , assertiveness , and advocacy , and help women to overcome cultural / societal barriers to recovery .
>> SA women-led lived experience recovery organisations with holistic healthcare services / women-led spaces Peer recovery champions and peer-led groups can provide opportunities to develop leadership skills and become advocates for addiction recovery in their communities . They can also help to cope with cravings , and find healthy ways to manage triggers . Such lived experiences can also help to inspire hope and motivate others .
some SA religious communities , addiction is often viewed as a lack of faith , which further creates a culture of shame and blame , with women ostracised from their families and communities .
Culture and religion are not separate in SA communities . For instance , most religions prohibit alcohol and drugs , and there is often a strong emphasis on family and community values , with women expected to be caregivers and maintain social harmony . This further creates feelings of guilt and shame when they struggle with addiction – they feel they ’ re letting down their families by engaging in behaviours that are stigmatising . SA cultures place a high value on conformity and respect for authority , and family members often play a central role in decision-making – particularly regarding marriage , education , and career choices . Women may face pressure to conform to traditional gender roles and expectations , making it difficult for them to assert their needs and boundaries .
BARRIERS TO ACCESS ‘ Many women from Black , Asian and ethnic minority communities feel that mainstream services do not listen to , or understand them ,’ said a 2021 report from WithYou , A system designed for women ? Understanding the barriers women face in accessing drug treatment and support services .
‘ They expressed a preference for receiving support from culturally-aware , culturally sensitive services that are Black , Asian and ethnic minority community-led , services led by people with lived experience ,’ it added . ‘ They also felt that services led by people with lived experience were better able to understand and respond to their needs .’
There are only a handful of culturally responsive organisations that offer recovery support for ethnic women in the UK , such as BAC-IN ( Nottingham ) and Nilaari ( Bristol ) and there is a dire need to create more peer-led culturally appropriate recovery organisations as those that do exist have limited access .
Funding for these organisations is also limited , which impacts their ability to provide a comprehensive range of services and reach a larger number of women in need of support . Sohan Sahota in his book Shades of Recovery mentioned how local and national commissioners often underestimate the need for culturally appropriate treatment services among ethnic communities . There is also a diverse range of languages in the SA communities , including Hindi , Urdu , Punjabi and Gujarati , which could be a
‘ There are only a handful of culturally responsive organisations that offer recovery support for ethnic women in the UK .’
barrier preventing many women from accessing services .
JOINT WORKING Changes in policy , attitudes , and fit-for-purpose service offers must be a joint effort and community-driven . They must be included and consulted on in all structures of the treatment system – specialist and peerled services , decision-making , training , service design and so on , before we lose another generation to untreated substance use .
We also need better data , and my current research on Recovery from substance use disorders in black , Asian and ethnic minority groups in the UK will explore what recovery entails for women in these groups and contribute to a better understanding of what helps them to sustain it . My study will focus on lived experience , and how they navigate their recovery journey .
Shinasa Shahid is a PhD student in addiction recovery
I encourage women in recovery to participate in my PhD research study with the following criteria :
>> Particular attention to women from the African / African- Caribbean , Asian British / Asian communities , but also including white women who will make up the control group for the study .
>> Women who are fluent in English and are 18 years and above . >> Anonymity and confidentiality will be maintained at all times .
WWW . DRINKANDDRUGSNEWS . COM JULY / AUGUST 2023 • DRINK AND DRUGS NEWS • 7