Addiction is a global concern and can have severe consequences on people’s lives, their families, and society as a whole. But if we talk about how addiction impacts men and women – it is true that men are more likely to initiate the habit of consuming alcohol or substances, although women get dependent comparatively faster due to biological reasons. According to a report by BBC, the phenomenon is called telescoping, which suggests that women start drinking later than men, but they take less time than men to develop an addiction; it is because their body produces a type of enzyme called ADH that gets released in liver and break down alcohol in the body.
In India, women face a different set of challenges associated with addiction. The biological aspect is not the only concern; there are several other factors, including social stigma, lack of research, childcare responsibility, and the gender gap in addiction treatment in India, which shows that addiction impacts the lives of women differently than men.
According to a survey by the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, nearly 2.2% of women in the country are dependent on alcohol or illegal drugs. We can say that the above percentage will probably be higher as there are several factors that limit women from seeking help.
What Are the Challenges Faced By Women Seeking Addiction Treatment In India
Before we discuss the challenges women face during alcohol addiction treatment, we must understand that it is a challenge in itself that a very small percentage of women seek addiction treatment in India. We are still unaware of this fact because very limited research has been conducted.
Now, those women who bravely take the step of seeking treatment further face other challenges in their treatment journey. Some of them are discussed below:
1. Social stigma
People often face societal stigma during their addiction treatment, but society is a bit unfair towards women. In contrast to men, who might be perceived as courageous by society, women experience great social pressure of being judged and getting embarrassed. This feeling of shame and guilt even increases their chances of quitting treatment in between and indulging in addiction again.
2. Lack of Awareness
The stigma surrounding addiction as a disease is even increased by a lack of understanding about it. It’s possible that many women and their families are unaware of the warning signs of addiction, which prevents them from getting help. In order to clear out misconceptions and promote early intervention and treatment, specialized treatment, education, and awareness programs are essential.
3. Gender Issue
Because of their social duties, women confront particular difficulties. The fear of losing custody of children because of some cultural conceptions of addiction, pressure to perform household tasks, and domestic violence can all be significant obstacles to receiving addiction treatment in India. A UNODC research titled “The Problem in India: Women and Drug Abuse” revealed that almost 50% of the women polled had suffered verbal or physical abuse at the hands of a partner or family member as a result of their addiction.
4. Limited resources
Women in India do not have enough resources when it comes to therapy. There is a need for more rehabilitation centers that focus on the specific issues that a woman faces during her recovery journey. It is seen that most of them are made with their basic approach inclining towards men.
5. Treatment Gap
Even though addiction and treatment therapies are offered, they might not specifically address the types of addictions that women experience. While prescription drug and alcohol consumption are major concerns for women in India, treatment programs may focus mostly on illicit drugs.
Furthermore, it’s possible that the programs do not sufficiently address co-occurring mental health conditions like anxiety and depression, which are common in women who have addictions. According to a study published in the Indian Journal of Community Medicine, more than 60% of the women in a Pune de-addiction center face stress, anxiety, and depression in addiction to addiction.
A Comprehensive Approach
It takes a multifaceted strategy to resolve the issue of addiction in Indian women. Specialized treatment facilities should be made with childcare and trauma-informed care centers to address the unique requirements of women. Also, public awareness campaigns can help to eliminate the stigma.
It is also important for de-addiction centers to implement customized programs that treat co-occurring mental health disorders and domestic abuse. Creating women’s support groups and encouraging them to seek support is also beneficial.
