Substance abuse treatment tailored to women ‘a must’

DIFFERENCES in the way the sexes misuse drugs and alcohol — such as women’s greater likelihood of misusing prescription drugs — highlight the need for gender-specific policies when tackling substance misuse, according to the Women’s Health Council (WHC).

Measures which should be addressed when examining ways to treat women engaged in substance misuse include the need to incorporate childcare facilities in treatment services, the council said.

Specifically, the council recommends that: