VESTA. Training and virtual training of professional teams in the field of addictions in the face of violence against women in healthcare resources with the aim of training for the development of a gender healthcare protocol
Year:
2024
Funded by:
Main Objective:
To train professionals in the field of drug addiction on the prevention, detection, and intervention of violence against female drug users, with a particular focus on equipping them to develop and implement gender-sensitive protocols within their respective units or resources.
Summary:
VESTA is a nationwide training programme designed to equip professional staff in care services for people experiencing drug addiction with the skills to develop and apply gender-sensitive care protocols. Research studies (Episteme Social 2022 and 2023) reveal that the life experiences of female drug users remain largely invisible. Women with drug addictions are a particularly stigmatised group, facing dual discrimination: as individuals addicted to illegal substances and as women who are drug users.
During the “heroin crisis” of the 1980s in Spain, research on drug-dependent populations primarily employed ethnographic methods to understand the realities of active users. At that time, the dominant profile was young or middle-aged Spanish men of medium-low or low socioeconomic status. Consequently, the main social resources developed during this period were designed for this demographic. For over three decades, the specific needs of female drug users have been systematically overlooked in both prevention and intervention strategies.
VESTA seeks to address this gap by offering free training to the professional teams working in care services. This training will raise awareness about the unique challenges faced by women, enabling professionals not only to address drug-related issues effectively but also to foster safe, non-violent environments where women’s realities and lifestyles are fully acknowledged and respected.
Keywords:
Male violence, gender-based violence, gender-sensitive protocols, training.
