It is important to acknowledge that a larger number of women are using drugs, and are consequently losing their values, identity and quality of life. As a result of social and economical developments woman have new roles. This has meant a steady increase in the number of woman that use drugs.

It has been shown that woman become addicted to cocaine faster than man do, even with experimental use. Women need to be aware of the effects that hormones have on them. The female hormone oestrogen causes women to become addicted more quickly then men. Especially in young girls that experience a lot of fluctuations in hormone levels this can be risky.

Women tend to abuse prescribed medication more often than men do, such as benzodiazepines. Women fear that if they seek treatment for their drug abuse, they will be deemed a bad mother and that their children will be taken away. (please also see alcohol and women)

Lastly, women tend to combine their drug abuse with the abuse of prescribed medication. This is a result of women going to their physicians complaining of sleep deprivation, nervousness etc, without mentioning their drinking.

Whether we are smoking marihuana to relax, taking XTC to party, snort cocaine to have great conversations, take LSD or mushrooms to have a spiritual experience, inject heroin to sedate ourselves, take sedatives to sleep, we are all doing the same thing. We are changing our feelings by taking a substance. There are a number of reasons to want to change our feelings. (please see the section in alcohol and women, strategies for drinking).

This often starts with excitement, adventure and good experiences, but in the end we all encounter the negative consequences of our drug use. These negative consequences differ per individual, however the pain is similar. When you realise this, it is often too late, and more difficult to stop than you had originally thought. We have lost control and cannot stop on willpower.

Drugs are symptom suppressors. For the cause of the stress, the discourse, the emptiness or the sleeping problems, the drugs do nothing. When you have ceased taking drugs, you will go through a difficult period. Feelings that you have suppressed for years can surface and you might have withdrawal symptoms. With good counselling you will get through this, and learn to live your life with satisfaction.