Barriers and amenities for seeking specialized treatment encountered by women who use psychoactive substances

Abstract

Identify barriers and amenities encountered by women when seeking treatment for chemical dependence. Quantitative study performed in three Psychosocial Care Centers in the state of São Paulo. The study was performed based on information obtained from a sample with 44 women, of whom 52.3% were single, 43.2% were Caucasian, and 95.4% were unemployed. The rates obtained in accordance with the sample were: 77.2% used psychoactive substances in the age group from 5 to 20 years, 34.9% used psychoactive substances in the streets with friends, 45.5% were seeking treatment for the first time due to alcohol, and 65.9% were motivated to go to treatment. The following items predominated as external barriers: 81.8% did not know there was a specialized service, 79.5% did not know that there was treatment specifically for women, 79.5% had families that did not consider it important or were ashamed of them, and 79.5% had never been referred to a specialized service. However, the most relevant amenity index in the search for treatment is the support of family and/or friends, reported by 70.5% of the women. The study reflects fragilities in the early detection of the consumption of psychoactive substances in women and in the disclosure of and referral to specialized treatment services.