Identifies the need for a women-centred framework as part of the solution to improve services that support women’s safety and health. Based on research, practice and women’s narratives confirming that violence is pervasive and central to the development of substance use and mental ill health.
This site captures material from historical and ongoing projects related to women’s substance use in Canada. The projects described here have been sponsored by the British Columbia Centre of Excellence for Women’s Health with the involvement of many partners. The site was first mounted to share the findings of the Coalescing on Women and Substance Use: Linking Research Practice and Policy project (2003-2008) a project that sparked short-term virtualcommunities of practice (vCoP) on six key topics related to women's substance use in Canada. New material continues to be added from both virtual and F2F projects, for example on projects related to girls and heavy alcohol use, and on applying a gender lens to work on the National Framework for Action to Reduce the Harms Associated with Alcohol and Other Drugs and Substances in Canada.
The aim of this site to share and promote action on promising approaches to responding to substance use by girls and women, on the part of service providers, researchers, health system planners and decision makers.
British Columbia Centre of Excellence for Women's Health (BCCEWH)
Media Type:
Paper
Online
Providesdiscussion guide to stimulate further conversation on addressing the needs of pregnant women and mothers in substance use prevention, harm reduction, treatment, service system planning, and policy making. Developed from the work of the Community of Practice (vCoP) that served as a mechanism for “gendering” the National Framework for Action to Reduce the Harms Associated with Alcohol and other Drugs and Substances in Canada.
British Columbia Centre of Excellence for Women's Health (BCCEWH)
Media Type:
Paper
Online
Provides discussion guide to stimulate conversation on gendered approaches to harm reduction. Developed from the work of the Community of Practice (vCoP) that served as a mechanism for “gendering” the National Framework for Action to Reduce the Harms Associated with Alcohol and other Drugs and Substances in Canada.
British Columbia Centre of Excellence for Women's Health (BCCEWH)
Media Type:
Paper
Online
Provides discussion guide on gendered approaches to youth prevention, harm reduction, and treatment, arising from a national virtual Community of Practice (vCoP) that served as a mechanism for “gendering” the National Framework for Action to Reduce the Harms Associated with Alcohol and other Drugs and Substances in Canada.
Discusses the VANDU Women Clinic Action Research for Empowerment Project (VANDU Women Care), a peer-driven, community-based organization that provides support, education and advocacy by and for women who use drugs in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. The goal of the project is to produce new knowledge about the primary health-care experiences of women who use drugs, while supporting their health, well-being and leadership.
