Substance Use Disorder: A Need to Address the Gender Difference

This paper aim to emphasize on the increase in the number of substance abuse among women along with a highlight on the need to understand gender differences in substance use disorders and necessitate having gender specific treatment which address the specific needs of women with substance use problems. With this aim, this article has put an effort to give more insight into gender differences in substance use disorders by elaborating on bio-psycho-social differences. This article also help the mental health professionals to acknowledge the need to have a specific intervention programme which address the issues, needs, strengths and challenges of women with substance use disorder. A brief review of literature pertaining to this specific area shows the necessity  to develop a need based psychosocial intervention exclusively addressing women specific bio-psycho-social issues of substance dependence is of critical in the context of increasing women’s alcohol and other substance dependence behaviors as a byproduct of ongoing social change that dispose women vulnerable to substance abuse and dependence.