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Reconstructing Cross-Cultural Meanings of Addiction Among Women from Three Countries

Author

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  • Caitlyn D. Placek

    (Department of Anthropology, Ball State University, Muncie, IN 47306, USA
    Current address: Global Health Initiative, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, MI 48202, USA.)

  • Lora Adair

    (Department of Life Sciences, Brunel University of London, London UB8 3PH, UK)

  • Ishita Jain

    (Department of Wellbeing, Regent College London, London WC1R 4BH, UK)

  • Sugandh Gupta

    (Department of Anthropology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
    Current address: Department of Anthropology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.)

  • Vandana Phadke

    (Gait and Motion Analysis Lab, Center for Paediatric Orthopaedics and Disabilities, Gurugram 122002, India)

  • Maninder Singh

    (Indian Spinal Injury Centre, Delhi 110037, India
    Current address: Division of Orthopaedics, Lakeridge Health, Oshawa, ON L1G 8A2, Canada.)

Abstract

The gender gap in drug use is narrowing in regions where access to criminalized substances, such as opioids, is increasing. While research shows that substance use is gendered, less is known about the cultural norms and values shaping women’s drug use, as most studies focus on men. Cross-national comparisons of cultural models of addiction are needed to better understand how addiction is perceived and to inform culturally responsive treatment approaches for women. This study examined cultural models of addiction among reproductive-aged women receiving treatment for substance misuse in London, Toronto, and Delhi. Participants completed a semi-structured questionnaire with open-ended and free-list prompts. Findings revealed shared cultural models attributing drug use to psychological factors, such as self-medicating to manage negative emotions or enhance positive ones, as well as relational, developmental, and biological influences. In conclusion, the study highlights the importance of incorporating cultural models into research and treatment. By using an inductive approach to explore meanings surrounding drug use among people in recovery, researchers can better understand how interventions are received and interpreted through existing internal frameworks.

Suggested Citation

  • Caitlyn D. Placek & Lora Adair & Ishita Jain & Sugandh Gupta & Vandana Phadke & Maninder Singh, 2025. "Reconstructing Cross-Cultural Meanings of Addiction Among Women from Three Countries," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 22(7), pages 1-17, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:22:y:2025:i:7:p:1064-:d:1693626
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Bijayalaxmi Biswal & Brian Zhou & Karen Wen & Devika Gupta & Urvita Bhatia & Abhijit Nadkarni, 2024. "Explanatory models of illicit drug use in adolescents: A qualitative study from India," PLOS Global Public Health, Public Library of Science, vol. 4(10), pages 1-18, October.
    2. Alexander C Tsai & Mathew V Kiang & Michael L Barnett & Leo Beletsky & Katherine M Keyes & Emma E McGinty & Laramie R Smith & Steffanie A Strathdee & Sarah E Wakeman & Atheendar S Venkataramani, 2019. "Stigma as a fundamental hindrance to the United States opioid overdose crisis response," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(11), pages 1-18, November.
    3. Daniulaityte, Raminta, 2004. "Making sense of diabetes: cultural models, gender and individual adjustment to Type 2 diabetes in a Mexican community," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 59(9), pages 1899-1912, November.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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