Women seeking treatment for drug addiction is increasing
According to The Times, the number of young women in their teens or early twenties requiring treatment for cocaine addiction is on the increase.
Despite heroin addiction declining, the number of women under 35 who are entering treatment has increased by 60 per cent in the past four years.
A survey undertaken by the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse shows that 1,645 women entered treatment for cocaine dependence for the first time in 2008-09, but three quarters were under 35. This is a far smaller figure than that the 15,440 women who sought treatment for their addiction last year but those ages 18-25 were the fastest growing group to be treated.
Chief executive of DrugScope, Martin Barnes has said that he believes the figures are a reminder that cocaine problems are divided by gender and the evidence shows that there is an increase in the number of both sexes using the drug.
“Although the latest figures highlight an increase in the number of women accessing support, cocaine use remains higher among men and there has been an even greater increase in the number of males contacting treatment services.”