How Women Living with Addiction Experience Services

While women account for roughly one quarter of all admissions to treatment services in Ireland, and across Europe, research including the voices of women who have lived with addiction and, engaged with harm reduction and treatment services, is relatively slim. That research which has been conducted shows that women experience services differently to men, and encounter distinct barriers. This project, in partnership with Tabor Group, seeks to fill this gap in the knowledge-base by interviewing a cohort of women who have used Tabor Group services. Interviews will focus upon women’s experiences of harm reduction and treatment services.

Research objective and questions

The key objective is to support addiction services to uncover what is different and unique about the needs of women service users, to support their recovery journeys.

1. How have women living with addiction issues experienced harm reduction services?
2. How have women living with addiction issues experienced treatment services?
3. What are the barriers to accessing harm reduction and treatment services?
4. How can services be made more suitable for women?
5. What supports have helped women living with addiction, and what additional supports may be useful?

Methodology

Semi-structured interviews will be conducted with women who have used Tabor Group services and experienced addiction to alcohol and/or drugs. The interviews will be used to gain an understanding of these women’s experiences of services.

Project Outputs

Funder

This project is funded under the Research Ireland New Foundations Programme from January 2025 - January 2026. 

Project Team

Dr James Windle (PI) and Dr Joan Cronin (Department of Sociology and Criminology & ISS21, University College Cork).

Contact

For further details on the project email: james.windle@ucc.ie