Thread by @GPDPD_

Research says most people who use drugs are men. And many people think there is no reason to involve #women in #drugpolicy. But they are mistaken. The drug phenomenon is not #gender neutral.

Why a #feminist perspective is essential 👉💡🧵...

Due to gendered norms and notions of #femininity that are incompatible with #drugs use, the complex realities of women are often ignored. However, a growing movement is trying to shift this perspective to better understand the unique challenges that female users face.

Let’s have a closer 👁️👁️ why…

#Women who use drugs are often judged because they don’t comply with socially constructed #norms and challenge the traditional role of women.

For example, Chang (Women Who Use Drugs: Resistance and Rebellion | Emerald Insight I 2020) writes that “gendered norms place expectations on women to comply with norms of femininity, such as selfless, modest and nurturing behaviour.”

This has led to a lack of research about the unique circumstances of women who use drugs. Let’s focus on what we do know then: According to @EMCDDA, women account for 1/4 of all people with problematic drug use patterns and only 1/5 of all entrants to drug treatment in Europe.

Women who use drugs typically begin using substances later than men. However, once they have initiated substance use, women tend to increase their rate of consumption of #alcohol, #cannabis, #cocaine, and #opioids more rapidly than men.

Moreover, women are more likely to experience #stigma and gender-based violence due to their drug use than men, increasing the barriers to access treatment. Also, the socio-economic burdens of drug use are heavier for women because they have lower #employment and income levels.

Reading Recommendation: The open access book “The Impact of Global Drug Policy on Women: Shifting the Needle” 💡👇
emerald.com/insight/public…)

In the context of #drugpolicy, women are often treated as an after-thought, as the exception to the male norm. The same goes for the #LGBTQ+ community. Designing, implementing & evaluating policies with a #gender perspective is significant for the effectiveness of drug policies.

Conclusion: It is time to dismantle the prejudiced images of drug-using women and take their complex realities seriously. Women should not be left out when talking about drug policies - they must be part of the process.

We need to develop and implement effective measures to reduce harm for 💜 men,💜women and💜everyone else with a problematic drug use 👉gpdpd.org/en/drug-policy…

#feminist #drugpolicy #harmreduction #HumanRights