Women not seeking help for substance abuse due to stigma, shame and fear

Homeless women can be fearful of accessing addiction services.

Stigma, shame and fear are key issues preventing women from engaging with services to address substance abuse, particularly those who are homeless, according to a new report.

The report, conducted in partnership with the UCD Community Drugs Programme, shows that 42% of people in homelessness are female, the average age at death of women who are homeless in Ireland is 38 years, while for men it is 44.