Official Launch of the Global Women’s Network for Treatment and Recovery
Authors
1.Dr. Hendrée Jones (⚑ United States) 1
2.Mrs. Charlotte A Sisson (⚑ United States) 2
3.Dr. Abel Basutu (⚑ Ethiopia) 3
4.Mrs. Oranooch Sungkhawanna (⚑ Sri Lanka) 4
5.Mrs. Jimena Kalawski (⚑ United States) 5
6.Mrs. Anja Busse (⚑ Austria) 6
7.Mrs. Amy Ronshausen (⚑ United States) 7
1. University of North Carolina, 2. Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), 3. African Union Commission, 4. The Colombo Plan, 5. Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD), Organization of American States (OAS), 6. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 7. World Federation Against Drugs
Abstract
Women around the world who use drugs face challenges that increase their vulnerability to gender-based violence, economic discrimination, human rights violations, physical and mental comorbidities, high rates of incarceration, and intense stigma and discrimination from many spheres of society. Such issues act as significant barriers to treatment and encourage the continued victimization of women who use drugs.
Traditionally, more men than women use drugs. Yet, now the numbers of females who use drugs continue to expand, it is important to understand gender-specific etiological factors, phenomenology, course and outcome, and to implement effective prevention, treatment, recovery and social re-integration strategies on a national and international level. Governments, international organizations, and civil society have a plethora of initiatives oriented towards strengthening the drug use prevention, treatment, and recovery support workforce. To leverage gains already achieved, it is critical to establish and strengthen systemic mechanisms to improve implementation of these interventions specifically for women.
An essential step in doing so is the development of a Global Women’s Network for Treatment and Recovery to build and support the workforce while concurrently improving treatment access, quality and outcomes of women served.
This sub-plenary session will include presentations from the African Union, Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission, Colombo Plan, UNODC, and the World Federation Against Drugs regarding the state of women in different regions around the world. The common challenges, successes and opportunities for change will be summarized. Next, the vision for the Global Women’s Network for Treatment and Recovery will be set forth: to provide a global empowering and educational platform for the treatment and recovery workforce at residential/hospital and community treatment centers, and to create a support network that ensures that all women who need access to high-quality substance use disorder treatment can receive life-changing care.
