Drug addiction treatment in masculinized services: analysis of the factors that hinder or facilitate the adherence of women in mixed residential resources

Abstract

Introduction/purpose/objectives: Women with substance use disorders have a lower demand and a higher failure rate in specialized residential treatment. The objective of this study was to analyze the factors that made it difficult or easier for women to access and stay in drug addiction treatment in mixed-type residential centers. Methods: Initial sociodemographic information was collected through an ad hoc questionnaire and a descriptive qualitative study was carried out through the development and analysis of focused groups. For this, eight focused groups were formed with a convenience criterion of five therapeutic communities and three therapeutic floors, in which 49 women were undergoing treatment at that time participated. Results: The main findings showed the difficulties that women face both when it comes to accessing it, and to complete the process in mixed residential treatment centers as they require to deal with the androcentrism permeated in these centers, in front of their male counterparts. Discussion/inputs/originality: The overexertion that women have to make to complete their therapeutic process successfully was shown. The study confirms the importance of continuing to emphasize the development of intervention and training programs for addiction professionals from a gender perspective to provide a comprehensive response to a latent problem.