A gendered difference? Female experience of drug and alcohol treatment in New Zealand

Abstract

<p>This study examined women’s experiences of drug and alcohol treatment in New Zealand, with a focus on Methadone Maintenance Treatment (MMT). The qualitative literature on the treatment experiences of substance-using women is scarce, especially in a New Zealand context, with the majority of literature being quantitative, male-focused, and lacking the female voice. Available literature suggests that substance-using women have unique needs and experiences which must be addressed and acknowledged in treatment for a long-lasting positive change. This thesis aims to explore the experiences of women who have or are attending substance use treatment in New Zealand and their recommendations for improving substance use treatment for women. Areas examined include the experience of stigma, connections and relationships in treatment, and the importance of knowledge. These factors culminate in an exploration of participants’ suggestions for improvement. The current study is qualitative, feminist-informed and employed the use of semi-structured interviews with 11 women who have been or are currently in treatment as well as two service providers. The data from these interviews was analysed using Thematic Analysis, finding that women in this study overall had positive experiences. However, there were several areas for improvement suggested by participants including a need for greater access to treatment options, particularly gender-sensitive, holistic approaches. A need for greater knowledge amongst service providers, especially General Practitioners (GPs), on how to treat problematic substance use and the available treatment options was also expressed. Women on MMT had similar, yet varied, experiences compared to those attending other treatments.</p>

A scoping review of Aotearoa New Zealand women's experiences of substance use, alcohol and drug services

“…In contrast, most women in Conroy's (2018) research did not report experiencing stigma, but, for those who did, it significantly impacted their lives. Examples of stigma included being falsely accused of drug seeking or child abuse by hospital staff, leading to being reported to child protection services (Conroy, 2018).…”

“…Strengths and weaknesses within AOD services. Conroy (2018) stated that an unexpected finding was that participants in her study reported generally positive experiences of AOD treatment in Aotearoa.…”

“…Women's adherence to "good mothering" ideology and acceptable feminine behaviour was found to be important in several studies, regardless of whether women were drinking, using illicit substances, on a methadone programme, or injecting drugs (Conroy, 2018;Gibson & Hutton, 2021;Pedersen, 2019;Ramsay, 2014;Spirrett, 1997). Women in Pedersen's (2019) study viewed deviating from good mothering ideology as lower class.…”

“…According to several studies, stigma, whether perceived or actual, was found to reduce women's willingness and ability to engage with healthcare and pregnancy services and seek support from their social networks (Chan & Moriarty, 2010;Conroy, 2018;Gibson & Hutton, 2021;Handa, 2006;Spirrett, 1997;Vaughan, 1996). Some women reported experiencing discrimination when accessing services like methadone or needle-exchange services in pharmacies, which exacerbated feelings of shame and stigma (Conroy, 2018;Gibson & Hutton, 2021). Some women felt that pharmacy staff viewed them as more contaminated than male counterparts (Gibson & Hutton, 2021).…”

“…Negative experiences of healthcare workers. Several studies indicated that healthcare professionals, including general practitioners, lack practicespecific knowledge and information about problematic substance use, addiction services, harm reduction, FASD, and substance use during pregnancy (Chan & Moriarty, 2010;Conroy, 2018;Gibson & Hutton, 2021;Handa, 2006;Salmon, 2008;Stuart, 2009). For instance, Māori women did not perceive health professionals as a significant source of information about alcohol and pregnancy and some women experienced them as undermining (Stuart, 2009).…”