The mental health experiences and needs of methamphetamine users in Cape Town: A mixed-methods study

Watt, Melissa H.; Myers, Bronwyn; Towe, Sheri L.; Meade, Christina S.

doi:10.7196/samjnew.7910

Cited by 18 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…The use of this drug seems to increase the likelihood of women engaging in acts of violence. This finding echoes previous studies conducted in the Western Cape that included women [ 31 , 32 ], where methamphetamine has been found to be related to the perpetration of aggressive behaviour. Recent research has shown that users’ ability to control or inhibit their aggressive impulses are affected by methamphetamine [ 33 ], which could account for heightened aggression and violent behaviour among people who use methamphetamine.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Aggressive behaviour among drug-using women from Cape Town, South Africa: ethnicity, heavy alcohol use, methamphetamine and intimate partner violence

et al. 2017

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BackgroundWomen have generally been found to be the victims of violence, but scant attention has been paid to the characteristics of women who perpetrate aggression and violence. In South Africa, violence is a prevalent societal issue, especially in the Western Cape.MethodThis study aimed at identifying factors that were associated with aggression among a sample of 720 substance-using women. We conducted multivariate logistic regression to identify factors that are significantly associated with these behaviours.ResultsEthnicity (Wald Χ2 = 17.07(2), p < 0.01) and heavy drinking (Wald Χ2 = 6.60 (2), p = 0.01) were significantly related to verbal aggression, methamphetamine use was significantly related to physical (Wald Χ2 = 2.73 (2), p = 0.01) and weapon aggression (Wald Χ2 = 7.94 (2), p < 0.01) and intimate partner violence was significantly related to verbal (Wald Χ2 = 12.43 (2), p < 0.01) and physical aggression (Wald Χ2 = 25.92 (2), p < 0.01).ConclusionsThe findings show high levels of aggression among this sample, and highlight the need for interventions that address methamphetamine, heavy drinking and intimate partner violence among vulnerable substance-using women.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Aggressive behaviour among drug-using women from Cape Town, South Africa: ethnicity, heavy alcohol use, methamphetamine and intimate partner violence

et al. 2017

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“…29,30 This surge in use remains a concern, particularly as people abusing this drug are significantly more likely to report severe health, family and financial problems compared to people who abuse other drugs. 28,30,31 For instance, women with methamphetamine use disorders have more symptoms of poor mental health relative to women who use other drugs 23 and women who use methamphetamine are more likely to have been victims of sexual abuse and intimate partner violence. 17,18 If the numerous physical and mental health needs of women who use methamphetamine are not addressed within the context of AOD treatment, it is unlikely that women will view these services as appropriate, acceptable or effective.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Alcohol and other drug use among women seeking substance abuse treatment in the Western Cape, South Africa

Dada¹,

Burnhams²,

Laubscher³

et al. 2018

S. Afr. J. Sci.

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Despite a high prevalence of alcohol and other drug use (AOD) in South Africa, little is known about AOD use among women, including those in treatment centres, and changes in use over time. This knowledge is important for the development of gender-sensitive interventions for the prevention and treatment of AOD problems. We aimed to describe changes in patterns of AOD use among women who accessed specialist AOD treatment centres in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. Data were collected from 51 specialist AOD treatment centres participating in the South African Community Epidemiology Network on Drug Use between 2000 and 2013. A total of 74 368 treatment episodes were recorded for the period, of which 22% involved women. The proportion of women seeking treatment increased from 4% to 11% over time. The most common primary substance of abuse among this sample was alcohol, followed by methamphetamine. Multinomial logistic regression analyses showed that young coloured (mixed race) women were almost 18 times more likely than other women to report methamphetamine as their primary substance of abuse (RRR=17.80; 95% CI=13.18–24.04). More than a quarter of women reported poly-substance abuse. Women treated for heroin were significantly more likely to be white and younger than 25 years old (RRR=1.62; 95% CI=1.19–2.21). These data portray an increasing use of AOD treatment services by women; particularly for alcohol and methamphetamine use disorders. Additional investigations into the service needs of women utilising AOD treatment is warranted.

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“…Studies in the Western Cape have found that methamphetamine places a large burden of harm on community health, social well‐being and economic development . Methamphetamine users in this setting have been shown to be more likely than non‐methamphetamine users to engage in high‐risk sexual behaviours, such as sex trading and unprotected sex , and to have high risk of mental health distress and aggression , all of which have important implications for the wellness of the greater community.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intimate partner violence among men and women who use methamphetamine: A mixed‐methods study in South Africa

Watt

Guidera

Hobkirk

et al. 2016

Drug and Alcohol Review

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Introduction The prevalence of methamphetamine use has risen dramatically in parts of South Africa. Globally, methamphetamine has been linked to intimate partner violence (IPV) and other forms of aggression. The aim of this mixed-methods study was to examine the experiences of physical IPV and its contextual factors among methamphetamine users in an urban community in Cape Town, South Africa. Methods Active methamphetamine users were recruited using respondent driven sampling. All participants (n=360) completed structured surveys, and a subset (n=30) completed in-depth interviews with discussions of personal IPV experiences. Quantitative data were examined separately by gender, and regression models were used to identify factors that were associated with physical IPV victimisation and perpetration. Qualitative data were analysed to provide contextual understanding. Results In the past 3 months, 47% of women and 31% of men reported being a victim of IPV, and 30% of women and 28% men reported being a perpetrator of IPV. Victimisation and perpetration were highly correlated, and both were significantly associated with histories of other traumas. Although the survey data suggests gender equivalence in IPV, the qualitative data provides a more nuanced context, with female victimisation by male partners being particularly frequent and intense. In narratives, IPV was a product of male aggression while using methamphetamine, norms around sex trading, and gender-based attitudes endorsing violence against women. Conclusion Addiction to methamphetamine creates heightened risks of IPV, especially among those with previous traumas. The findings emphasise the importance of identifying and addressing IPV among methamphetamine users in South Africa.

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The mental health experiences and needs of methamphetamine users in Cape Town: A mixed-methods study

Cited by 18 publications

References 16 publications

Aggressive behaviour among drug-using women from Cape Town, South Africa: ethnicity, heavy alcohol use, methamphetamine and intimate partner violence

Aggressive behaviour among drug-using women from Cape Town, South Africa: ethnicity, heavy alcohol use, methamphetamine and intimate partner violence

Alcohol and other drug use among women seeking substance abuse treatment in the Western Cape, South Africa

Intimate partner violence among men and women who use methamphetamine: A mixed‐methods study in South Africa

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