Category Archives: Drugs Alcohol

Research shows that women are being failed by drug and alcohol treatment services – Centre for Justice and Innovation and Staffordshire University

A research study published on 5 October 2023 by the Centre for Justice Innovation and Staffordshire University has uncovered evidence that women are at risk of being targeted by abusers in “chaotic, intimidating or unsafe” drug and alcohol treatment services.

The research calls for a new specialist approach to treatment for women, which keeps them safe and recognises the strong link between their substance misuse and traumatic experiences like childhood sexual abuse or domestic abuse.

Women who seek treatment for drugs and alcohol face different needs from their male counterparts, including high incidence of trauma and abusive relationships, a greater burden of stigma around substance use and more common childcare responsibilities. Yet the research found that women’s needs were not being met within the treatment system, where they can struggle to achieve recovery in a system where they are outnumbered two to one by men.

The report (‘Exploring women’s experience of drug and alcohol treatment in the West Midlands’) found that some women were forced to attend mixed-gender treatment groups, which made it difficult for some to talk about traumatic experiences that might be linked to their substance use, such as sexual violence. Mixed gender treatment spaces were also found to be putting the women at risk, with some women describing that they felt vulnerable to ‘predatory males’. One treatment worker likened mixed groups to ‘a hunting ground‘ for men, while others described women being groomed into sex work after being targeted by male service users.

Women also described how the way that services were set up meant that it was difficult to manage treatment alongside childcare responsibilities.  Barriers to accessing treatment were seen as particularly pronounced for members of some minority communities, including women of South Asian or Eastern European backgrounds.

To enable women to have the best chance of achieving recovery, the report recommends providing access to gender-specific support and treatment in ‘safe, appropriate spaces’, suitable for those with children, and providing gender-specific care which can help safely explore drivers of addiction such as trauma and abuse.

These findings come at a pivotal time, as the welcome restoration of treatment funding through the Government’s 2021 drugs strategy, From Harm to Hope, offers a vital opportunity to ensure that treatment services can meet women’s needs.

The research findings are based on interviews conducted at three community drug treatment services, across three local authorities in the West Midlands, with the help of Expert Citizens CIC.

The research has been widely welcomed, including by the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner (who co-funded the research, along with the JABBS Foundation), and the Nelson Trust, a charity providing specialist treatment services to women in the South-West.

  • A copy of the research is available here. 

About the research

  • The research findings are based on interviews conducted at three drug community drug treatment centres and one women’s centre, across three local authorities in the West Midlands.
  • Participants included 28 women currently in treatment, and 20 practitioners. All had experience of both women-only and mixed-sex provision.
  • Only two of the three centres in the study guaranteed women the choice of a female key worker (page 28); one treatment service and the women’s centre were the only providers of women-only spaces, and this was limited to a small number of women with complex needs (page 26); one of the three centres offered mixed-sex group sessions only (page 29).
  • The research was carried out by Stephen Whitehead and Hannah Jeffery, from the Centre for Justice Innovation; Sarah Page, Fiona McCormack, and Sophie Oldfield from Staffordshire University; Sophia Fedorowicz and Tracy Knight from Expert Citizens CIC; and Russell Webster. It was funded by West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, and the Jabbs Foundation.
  • The research was ethically approved by Staffordshire University.

Part of a longer press release at https://justiceinnovation.org/articles/research-shows-women-are-being-failed-drug-and-alcohol-treatment-services

 

October 13, 2023

74 per cent of victims of spiking are women – National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC)

Police forces in England and Wales shared spiking reports with the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) between September 2021 and September 2022. Nearly 5,000 cases of needle and drink spiking incidents were reported as forces across the country stepped up their focus on tackling the issue.

Spiking is when someone puts alcohol or drugs into another person’s drink or body without their consent or knowledge. This is illegal even if no other offence is committed. People can also be the victims of ‘needle spiking’, which is injecting someone with drugs without their consent.

Deputy Chief Constable Maggie Blyth, the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for Violence Against Women and Girls, said:

“Behind each of these reports is a frightened victim whose night out has turned into a nightmare. I know from talking to victims of spiking how utterly terrifying it can be.

“Police forces have increased action against spiking with uniformed and covert operations in bars and clubs, working alongside venues to prevent and investigate spiking.

“Spiking is a complex and challenging offence to investigate. Drugs pass through the system quickly and there is often limited evidence to identify offenders, which means it’s not easy to get these cases to court.

“In order to have the best chance of identifying drugs and bringing offenders to justice, our message to anyone who thinks they have been spiked is to report early and be tested by the police.

“Don’t let the fact that you might have knowingly taken illegal drugs, stop you from reporting. It’s really important that if you do think you have been spiked, and you have taken drugs, that you let the officer know so that they have the full picture.”

Jayne Butler, CEO Rape Crisis England & Wales said:

“Spiking is a serious crime that can leave victims and survivors feeling frightened and disorientated. If you suspect you have experienced spiking you might be unsure what has happened to you, have vague memories, or feel confused. You might know you have been spiked but don’t know if you have been raped or sexually assaulted. No matter the circumstances, you are not to blame and support is available.

“At Rape Crisis we take every person’s experience of being spiked seriously. Rape Crisis workers can help you to make sense of your feelings, support you to make any appointments such as medical examinations or forensic tests, and offer choice around whether you would like to report to the police. We’ll help you to explore your options, and support you to make decisions that feel right for you. You can also contact us for free, confidential emotional support, at any time of the day or night.”

Part of a longer report that also includes advice if you suspect you have suffered spiking – go to https://news.npcc.police.uk/releases/potential-victims-of-spiking-urged-to-report-to-police-and-get-tested-quickly-as-nearly-5-000-reports-of-spiking-are-made-within-a-year

 

January 11, 2023

New report highlights barriers to treatment and support for women who use drugs

With You provides blueprint for a more accessible, flexible and engaging system of support for women

Ahead of the release of the Government’s drug strategy, due out by the end of the year, national drugs, alcohol and mental health charity, With You, has launched a groundbreaking report highlighting the specific challenges women face in accessing drug treatment and support.

The report follows recent data showing:

  • Record levels of drug-related deaths in Scotland, England and Wales, in 2020 reaching a record 1,453 deaths in England and Wales
  • Drug related death rates tripled in Scotland from 122 in 2010 to 366 in 2020, according to the Office for National Statistics and National Records Scotland.

A system designed for women? has been compiled following extensive research across 80 locations across England and Scotland, drawing on interviews with women who have accessed drug treatment services, frontline staff, surveys, roundtables, materials attained through Freedom of Information Act requests and expert interviews.

It argues that drug-related problems unique to women have received insufficient attention in research and that women are held back from getting support by a system that often lacks the capacity and flexibility to cater for their needs, setting out recommendations for services, commissioners and policymakers to create more women-accessible environments.

Specifically, the report calls on:

  • National policy makers to include objectives and guidance for increasing the number of women in drug treatment in the upcoming Drugs and Addiction Strategies, improved research and data collection, and increased funding.
  • Local authorities to commission women-only services where needed, including for Black, Asian and ethnic minority communities, promote gender and trauma training, and ensure that services are able to provide a range of bespoke interventions to engage the different needs of women who use drugs.
  • Service providers to involve women with lived experience in service design, delivery and evaluation so services are designed for women’s needs, ensure staff receive the appropriate training, and ensure service branding is visually engaging for women and that their physical spaces are flexible, appropriate and welcoming.

The full report and recommendations are available here.

https://www.wearewithyou.org.uk/media/press-release-archive/new-report-highlights-barriers-to-treatment-and-support-for-women-who-use-drugs/

February 27, 2022

New report highlights barriers to treatment and support for women who use drugs

With You provides blueprint for a more accessible, flexible and engaging system of support for women

Ahead of the release of the Government’s drug strategy, due out by the end of the year, national drugs, alcohol and mental health charity, With You, has launched a groundbreaking report highlighting the specific challenges women face in accessing drug treatment and support.

The report follows recent data showing:

  • Record levels of drug-related deaths in Scotland, England and Wales, in 2020 reaching a record 1,453 deaths in England and Wales
  • Drug related death rates tripled in Scotland from 122 in 2010 to 366 in 2020, according to the Office for National Statistics and National Records Scotland.

A system designed for women? has been compiled following extensive research across 80 locations across England and Scotland, drawing on interviews with women who have accessed drug treatment services, frontline staff, surveys, roundtables, materials attained through Freedom of Information Act requests and expert interviews.

It argues that drug-related problems unique to women have received insufficient attention in research and that women are held back from getting support by a system that often lacks the capacity and flexibility to cater for their needs, setting out recommendations for services, commissioners and policymakers to create more women-accessible environments.

Specifically, the report calls on:

  • National policy makers to include objectives and guidance for increasing the number of women in drug treatment in the upcoming Drugs and Addiction Strategies, improved research and data collection, and increased funding.
  • Local authorities to commission women-only services where needed, including for Black, Asian and ethnic minority communities, promote gender and trauma training, and ensure that services are able to provide a range of bespoke interventions to engage the different needs of women who use drugs.
  • Service providers to involve women with lived experience in service design, delivery and evaluation so services are designed for women’s needs, ensure staff receive the appropriate training, and ensure service branding is visually engaging for women and that their physical spaces are flexible, appropriate and welcoming.

The full report and recommendations are available here.

https://www.wearewithyou.org.uk/media/press-release-archive/new-report-highlights-barriers-to-treatment-and-support-for-women-who-use-drugs/

February 27, 2022

5 January 2022 23:59 ~ Spiking in Nightclubs and Pubs – Online Survey – Home Affairs Committee – Closing date

The Committee wishes to explore the police and others’ response to reported incidents of spiking.

As part of this inquiry, the Committee has therefore launched a public survey to give individuals who have experienced or witnessed spiking the opportunity to explain what happened and what support was provided following the incident, including what happened if the incident was reported.

You can also share why you might have chosen not to report an incident.

You can complete this survey here until 11.59pm on Wednesday 5 January 2022.

If you have any questions, please contact homeaffcom@parliament.uk

https://committees.parliament.uk/call-for-evidence/655/

See also:

 

December 10, 2021