It ’ s a situation that ’ s obviously not limited to the UK . Gender might well be mentioned as a priority for a great many drug strategies and policies , but the reality was that there ‘ were

not enough programmes that are genuinely gender-based and tailored to gender needs ’, EUDA executive director Alexis Goosdeel told the recent Health and social responses for women who use drugs — perspectives from Latin America , the Caribbean and Europe webinar .

Drug use and its consequen ces were often treated as if they were ‘ gender neutral ’, said principal scientist at EUDA , Linda Montanari – despite there being a range of differences in risk factors , behaviour and more . These included mental health issues , pregnancy , childcare and

even imprisonment . ‘ A big issue among women who use drugs is gender-based violence ,’ she said – whether current , or issues like previous sexual abuse with its associated trauma . Although there were efforts to overcome barriers to accessing treatment , many countries still had no gender-specific interventions at all , while in others they were often exclusively focused on pregnancy and maternity . ‘ Of course a very important aspect , but there are many other issues that need to be tackled ,’ she stated .

COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH These barriers to accessing treatment obviously included stigma – something that was ‘ multiplied ’ for women – along with women ’ s comparative lack of economic resources , and the very real fear of having their children taken away . But it was vital to look at the intersections between all of them , she stressed . ‘ Women have specific needs because they use drugs but also because they ’ re parenting or pregnant , because they ’ re involved sex work , they ’ re from an ethnic minority or they ’ re in prison . It ’ s really necessary to have a comprehensive and holistic approach .’

When it came to lack of economic resources , Latin

America and the Caribbean was the most unequal region in the world , said Corina Giacomello , a professor at Mexico ’ s Universidad Autónoma de Chiapas – with more than 170m people not having enough income to meet their basic needs . Poverty affected more women than men of working age , with the region facing ‘ persistent ’ gender inequality . There were also inequalities of access to health services between and within countries , as well as between urban and rural areas , and for indigenous populations .

While the number of women using substances In Latin America was lower overall than for men , the gap closed among younger generations and in the case of controlled medicines was reversed , she pointed out . Despite ‘ increasing evidence on the vulnerable situations of women who use substances ’ drug policies still tended to maintain a malecentred approach . Not only was there low availability of exclusive services for women , but services for women who ’ d experienced gender-based violence generally often didn ’ t accept women who used drugs – ‘ reproducing the forms of violence and symbolic and institutional discrimination that puts the lives of women and their children at risk ’.

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