Men are generally more likely to use drugs than women, making up over three-quarters of global drug users. This trend is particularly evident for drugs like cannabis, amphetamines, opiates, and cocaine. However, the non-medical use of pharmaceutical drugs, such as sedatives, tranquilizers, pharmaceutical opioids, and stimulants, shows a different pattern. In some cases, the number of women using these substances can be nearly equal to the number of men, based on available data from a limited number of countries, says World Drug Report 2024 by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
GENDER AND GEOGRAPHIC VARIATION IN DRUG USE
The proportion of women who use drugs varies by geographical location. For example, only 9% of cannabis users in Asia are women, while women account for 45% of such users in North America. Men are more likely than women to inject drugs, with about one in five people who inject drugs (PWID) being a woman, based on limited data from 18 countries.
HEALTH AND SOCIAL CONSEQUENCES FOR WOMEN
Women who inject drugs face a higher burden of health and social consequences. They are 1.2 times more likely than men to be living with HIV, based on data from 58 countries. Traditional gender roles and power structures increase women’s vulnerability to unsafe sexual and injecting behaviours. Women who inject drugs often have a male partner who introduced them to drug use and are likely to rely on their partner for injection. Additionally, women who use drugs are vulnerable to gender-based violence and sexual abuse by intimate partners, other drug users, law enforcement officers, and drug service providers.
BARRIERS TO ACCESSING TREATMENT
Multiple barriers prevent people who use drugs from accessing treatment and health services, with women being most affected. Services often lack a gender-specific approach, and women may not always be aware of available drug services. The double stigma and discrimination of being a woman and a person who uses drugs further hinder access to services. Fear of losing custody of their children also prevents many women from seeking help.
UNDERREPRESENTATION IN TREATMENT
Women tend to progress to drug use disorders faster than men but remain underrepresented in treatment. In 2022, while one in four drug users were a woman, only one in five treated for drug use disorders was a woman. This gap exists globally for almost all drugs but is most acute for women who use amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS). While 25% of ATS users globally are women, only 16% of those in treatment are women.
REGIONAL DIFFERENCES IN TREATMENT
There are geographical differences in the representation of women in drug treatment. In some regions, the share of women among those treated and those using drugs is similar, such as cannabis in Australia and New Zealand, amphetamines in North America, and cocaine in several sub regions.
The gender disparities in drug use and treatment underscore significant health and social consequences for women. Addressing these issues requires a gender-specific approach to drug services and increased awareness and support for women who use drugs. Reducing stigma and discrimination and ensuring that women have access to appropriate treatment and health services are crucial steps in mitigating the adverse impacts of drug use on women.
