ABSTRACT
Women face different barriers to men in recognising a problem as drug or drink-related, and in seeking help from treatment services. Problems in their lives may be attributed to other factors, if they are acknowledged at all, while fear of social disapproval may result in the concealment of drinking and drug use (Blume, 1990; Plant, 1997). It is argued that part of the motivation for change involves the initial recognition of a problem, interpretations of it, and judgements about its severity (Murphy and Bentall, 1992). However, such decisions are not made in a social vacuum; other people, particularly male partners, family members and friends, play an important role in influencing women's decisions to admit or conceal problems, and in encouraging or inhibiting constructive action. There are physical, emotional and social consequences of drinking and drug use specific to women (cf. Davison and Marshall, 1996), which may be exacerbated by delays in seeking specialist help; at worst resulting in a slide into physical or psychological crisis. An understanding of the influences of significant others on women, and the ways in which these are affected by gender, is therefore crucial.
