Hello, Ian -

This is a very interesting question, and one that I have thought about myself. I cannot provide many articles for you, as I have not really researched the topic to date, but I do have one:

Yeom, H. S. (2015). Utilization of Substance Abuse Treatment: Gender Differences among Participants in an Aftercare Program. Social Work In Public Health, 30(7), 578-591. doi:10.1080/19371918.2015.1084773

I worked as an advanced practice nurse in the field of addictions for >20 years.

What reading I have done has centered around the gender differences in stigma associated with addiction treatment.  The disease (Substance  Use Disorder) is somehow "worse" when we are talking about women. They are often seen as having different responsibilities and/or roles in society. Women, it seems, sometimes suffer more discrimination and are more harshly judged because they should be at home caring for and nurturing children. The 'double standard' can be even more pronounced when we are talking about a pregnant woman.

Because of this prevailing attitude, counseling and therapy must be focused on these issues that women face. I think it is safe to say that men and women face some of the same issues regarding addiction, but each gender has its own challenges, and each requires a specialized treatment approach.

I will be interested to follow your work in this area. Thanks for asking this question.

Bonnie

many thanks for this Bonnie this is really helpful. I agree the issue is complex in terms of protective and risk factors for males and females. And as you say the stigma and narrative that is associated with gender/sex. I will read the Yeom paper with interest as I hadn't come across this one so really grateful, thanks for taking the time and interest to reply, really appreciated, Ian

Hi Ian The short answer is yes. I looked at this issue in a recent paper in Drugs and Alcohol Today but my focus was on drug policy. Most of the literature I came across on drug treatment was from the US. Drop me an email if you would like to talk further.

thanks Emma, I'll email now, Ian

Addiction is widely considered a disorder of the memory processes and over the past several years, studies have shown strong hemispheric gender differences in how the brain responds to memory processing after seeing emotionally arousing material. For example men show stronger responses in the right amygdala and women have stronger responses in the left amygdala. women with emotional difficulties such as subjective unhappiness or depressive symptoms had much higher risks of addiction than did men with similar problems.

many thanks Kiran, is there a paper you would recommend covering this ?

Hi

Please see this link.

Best regards

https://books.google.iq/books?id=D7-xVxdjG9oC&pg=PA36&lpg=PA36&dq=%22ignored+gender%22%2B+addiction&source=bl&ots=iakg6PlZSp&sig=He8NIpomdRsdPm2TEYA93GWifR8&hl=ar&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjP96OAo8TPAhVC0RQKHer6C3AQ6AEIITAB#v=onepage&q=%22ignored%20gender%22%2B%20addiction&f=false

many thanks Ali this is really helpful, Ian

It seems we only remembers when it suits our individual interests, which unfortunately remains broadly patriarchal. Until we honestly find the root cause of  addiction its interpretation will forever remain a male dominated. I am not saying woman are not part of it, they are big time and especially the elites. I see it everyday the way they treat other women who are not as fortunate... 

Hello Ian,

Italy has a recent (2015) study you might like to peruse as well...

Looking forward to your contribution.

Blessings~ Bre

http://www.unicri.it/topics/social_justice_development/dawn/UNICRI_DAWN_new.pdf

many thanks Bre, I had not seen this publication which looks really useful and comprehensive, much appreciated Ian