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Women's Directorate
Department Overview
Advancing Women's Equality
Women and Substance Abuse
The Women's Directorate is working to improve polices, programs and services to Yukon women who are experiencing problematic substance use or addiction. We know that women have different patterns of addiction, abuse different substances and in different ways. Women’s substance abuse is often initiated as a coping mechanism in response to a traumatic or stressful life event. Additionally, women’s substance use can be compounded by ongoing issues related to marginalization, poverty and intimate partner violence, among others. Perhaps more importantly, the consequences of addiction for women are often more severe, both physiologically and emotionally. Women who are mothering or pregnant, in particular, may experience multiple barriers to receiving the supports they need for themselves and their families.
The Women's Directorate, in conjunction with Health and Social Services and Justice, has formed an Interdepartmental Working Group to look at relevant issues for women in the Yukon as well as best practices in the area of women and substance abuse. The Women's Directorate has commissioned and released a report on this issue - Improving Treatment and Support for Yukon Girls and Women with Substance Use Problems and Addictions [
472KB].
The report and recommendations speak strongly to the interest in training in women centred care in the treatment of substance abuse. The Women's Directorate has commissioned a training plan in this area, and recently offered the first in a series of training sessions.
The training session provided an overview of key gender differences in substance use and addiction and outlined advances in evidence-based, women-centered practice and policy in the substance use field. It was facilitated by Nancy Poole and Cristine Urquhart.
Nancy Poole is a research associate with the British Columbia Centre of Excellence for Women’s Health (BCCEWH) and is known internationally for her research on women and substance use, and the prevention of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. Cristine Urquhart is the provincial training consultant for ActNow BC- Healthy Choices in Pregnancy, a key initiative of BCCEWH. Poole and Urquhart have developed and delivered training on women-centered care in the treatment of substance use across Canada.
Download The Participant Handbook [ 4MB] as well as the slide presentation for Day One [ 1MB] and Day Two [ 1MB].
Information from Recent Training Sex and Gender Differences in Substance Use: Policy and Practice Responses to Improve the Care of Women.
Training session provided by Nancy Poole & Cristine Urquhart - February 11-12, 2009.
Photos: Participants / (instructor) at a WD-sponsored workshop on Interconnections: Substance Use, Trauma, Mental Ill-health and Women.
