ABSTRACT
Women, like men, use alcohol and other psychoactive substances for a range of reasons including relaxation and pleasure. Women’s alcohol and drug misuse needs to be viewed in the context of women’s role in contemporary society. For thousands of years, genderrelated and religio-social rules have defined what is considered appropriate behaviour for women, including the use of alcohol and drug. Despite the commitment to sexual equality, the expectations of women in society in relation to the notions of carer, motherhood, the occupation of maternity and childbearing remains pervasive. Women are stigmatised for drinking in the home, as this conflicts with an ideology of women and motherhood as being self-denying and nurturing of both men and children
j Describe the prevalence of alcohol and drug misuse with women.
