To analyze how psychoactive substance (PS) use among Latin American women is addressed between 2000 and 2024, considering theoretical perspectives, dimensions, variables employed, and methodological strategies.
Methods:
This scoping review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines. An intersectional perspective was employed for the analysis. The literature search included databases such as PubMed and Scielo, covering studies from 2000 to 2024. Eligibility criteria included empirical studies in Spanish, English, or Portuguese. Five researchers evaluated and extracted data. The information was organized in tables and figures.
Results:
A total of 53 studies were selected out of 556, based on inclusion criteria related to gender, substance use, and regional context. Brazil and Mexico led the academic production, with most studies published between 2004 and 2024, primarily using quantitative descriptive methods. The studies are grouped into 5 themes: prevalence, sociocultural aspects, violence and risks, vulnerable groups, and interventions and treatments. Alcohol and tobacco use were the most studied, followed by marijuana, cocaine, and crack. However, polydrug use and recreational consumption were less explored, as were the experiences of transgender and gender-diverse individuals. Only 4 studies applied an intersectional approach, while most analyses were limited to binary gender perspectives.
Discussion:
PS use among women reflects complex inequalities tied to gender, race, and class, amplified by structural violence and socioeconomic barriers. Strengthening regional collaboration, adopting intersectional approaches, and diversifying study populations are essential for designing inclusive and effective interventions. Research must overcome current gaps and address underexplored topics like recreational consumption and gender-diverse experiences.
IADAC Commission. Informe Sobre El Consumo de Drogas En Las Américas, 2019. Vol 8. 1st ed. Organización de los Estados Americanos (OEA); 2019.
3.
EttorreE.Revisioning women and drug use: gender sensitivity, embodiment and reducing harm. Int J Drug Policy. 2004;15(5-6):327-335. doi:10.1016/j.drugpo.2004.06.009
4.
MeashamF.“Doing Gender”—“Doing Drugs”: conceptualizing the gendering of drugs cultures. Contemp Drug Probl. 2002;29(2):335-373. doi:10.1177/009145090202900206
5.
Jiménez RodrigoMLGuzmán OrdazR.Género y usos de drogas: dimensiones de análisis e intersección con otros ejes de desigualdad (Gender and drugs uses: dimensions of analysis and intersection with other inequality axis). Oñati Socio-Leg Ser. 2012;2(6):77-96.
6.
Romo-AvilésN. Drugs and gender. In: RonzaniTM, ed. Drugs and Social Context. Springer International Publishing; 2018:63-75. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-72446-1_5
7.
MianiCWandschneiderLNiemannJBatram-ZantvoortSRazumO.Measurement of gender as a social determinant of health in epidemiology—a scoping review. Federici S, ed. PLoS One. 2021;16(11):e0259223. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0259223
CampbellNDEttorreE. Gendering Addiction: The Politics of Drug Treatment in a Neurochemical World. 1st ed. Palgrave Macmillan UK; 2011. doi:10.1057/9780230314245
10.
EvansEAGrellaCEWashingtonDLUpchurchDM.Gender and race/ethnic differences in the persistence of alcohol, drug, and poly-substance use disorders. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2017;174:128-136. doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2017.01.021
11.
GoodwinSRMoskalDMarksRMClarkAESquegliaLMRocheDJO. A scoping review of gender, sex and sexuality differences in polysubstance use in adolescents and adults. Alcohol Alcohol. 2022;57(3):292-321. doi:10.1093/alcalc/agac006
12.
ReyesJCPérezCMColónHMDowellMHCumsilleF.Prevalence and patterns of polydrug use in Latin America: analysis of population-based surveys in six countries. Rev Eur Stud. 2013;5(1):10-18. doi:10.5539/res.v5n1p10
13.
CoutoMTde OliveiraESeparavichMAALuizOC.La perspectiva feminista de la interseccionalidad en el campo de la salud pública: revisión narrativa de las producciones teórico-metodológicas. Salud Colect. 2019;15:e1994. Accessed July 30, 2024. https://www.redalyc.org/journal/731/73159565004/html/
14.
HankivskyO.Women’s health, men’s health, and gender and health: Implications of intersectionality. Soc Sci Med. 2012;74(11):1712-1720. doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2011.11.029
15.
RodriguesCCO. Cartografías de las drogas: estudio de la Reducción de Daños y Riesgos y de las prácticas de Gestión de Placeres desde Cataluña. Published online 2022. Accessed May 29, 2024. https://repositorio.unesp.br/handle/11449/242816
16.
PechenyMHillerRManzelliHBinstockG. Mujeres, infección por VIH y uso de drogas en la Argentina reciente. In: EpeleM, ed. Padecer, Cuidar y Tratar: Estudios Socio-Antropológicos Sobre Consumo Problemático de Drogas. Antropofagia. 1st ed. Antropofagia; 2012:25-55.
17.
Salamanca FernándezA. Violencia de género y consumo de sustancias: Análisis de la interseccionalidad. Tesis de Doctorado. Universidad Complutense de Madrid; 2024.
18.
Wasilow-MuellerSEricksonCK.Drug abuse and dependency: understanding gender differences in etiology and management. J Am Pharm Assoc. 2001;41(1):78-90. doi:10.1016/S0003-0465(15)32996-7
19.
ArkseyHO’MalleyL.Scoping studies: towards a methodological framework. Int J Soc Res Methodol. 2005;8(1):19-32. doi:10.1080/1364557032000119616
20.
TriccoACLillieEZarinW, et al. PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR): checklist and explanation. Ann Intern Med. 2018;169(7):467-473. doi:10.7326/M18-0850
21.
Sánchez AnteloVStrawCJeifetzVSaavedraJNóbregaMPSS. Twenty-four years of research on women’s drug use in Latin American countries: a scoping review (2000-2024). Published online 2025. Accessed February 25, 2025. https://osf.io/hs4t2_v1
IslamMArphanA.Gender dynamics of drug problem in Brazil. Mediterr J Soc Sci. 2016;7(2):52-60. doi:10.5901/mjss.2016.v7n2s1p52
24.
MaltaMMagnaniniMMMelloMBPascomARPLinharesYBastosFI.HIV prevalence among female sex workers, drug users and men who have sex with men in Brazil: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Public Health. 2010;10(1):317. doi:10.1186/1471-2458-10-317
25.
KachaniATOkudaLSBarbosaALRBrasilianoSHochgrafPB.Aleitamento Materno: quanto o álcool pode influenciar na saúde do bebê. Pediatr São Paulo. 2008;30(4):249-256.
26.
Pacurucu AvilaNJColcha GuevaraTILópez PesantezMCTuba CornejoVRVera LeonP.Alcoholismo y Prevalencia de Violencia en Mujeres de Latinoamérica: Metaanálisis. (Spanish). FACSalud. 2023;7(13):59-65.
27.
PinheiroSNLapregaMRFurtadoEF.Morbidade psiquiátrica e uso de álcool em gestantes usuárias do Sistema Único de Saúde. Rev Saúde Pública. 2005;39:593-598. doi:10.1590/S0034-89102005000400012
28.
NóbregaMPSSde OliveiraEM.Alcohol consumption among women: a qualitative analysis. Rev Saúde Pública. 2005;39(5):816-823. doi:10.1590/S0034-89102005000500018
29.
MalbergierACardosoLRDAmaralRASantosVC.Gender parity and drug use: are girls catching up with boys?Braz J Psychiatry. 2012;34(1):16-23. doi:10.1016/S1516-4446(12)70005-3
30.
MenezesAASRamosDOSanchezZMMiskolciR. Racial-based bullying and substance use: a Brazilian national cross-sectional survey among students. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities. 2023;10(3):1441-1454. doi:10.1007/s40615-022-01330-6
31.
DevóglioLLCorrenteJEBorgatoMHGodoyID.Smoking among female sex workers: prevalence and associated variables. J Bras Pneumol. 2017;43(1):6-13. doi:10.1590/s1806-37562016000000162
32.
Rodríguez-BolañosRArillo-SantillánEGuzmán-RodríguezC, et al. Similarities and differences in substance use patterns among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and heterosexual Mexican adult smokers. LGBT Health. 2021;8(8):545-553. doi:10.1089/lgbt.2020.0457
33.
MatosELoriaDAmestoyG, et al. Smoking behavior and its determinants among women in Concordia, Argentina. Nicotine Tob Res. 2004;6(1):103-108. doi:10.1080/14622200310001656920
34.
BerruetaMMorelloPAlemánA, et al. Smoking patterns and receipt of cessation services among pregnant women in Argentina and Uruguay. Nicotine Tob Res. 2016;18(5):1116-1125. doi:10.1093/ntr/ntv145
35.
GarcíaMAJAlonsoCLLópezPP. Consumo de medicamentos en la población femenina adulta de Cuba. Rev Cuba Salud Pública. 2013;39:440-449.
36.
VillarrealM.Detección de drogas ilícitas en la orina en el Servicio de Neonatología, Hospital Molas, La Pampa. Arch Argent Pediatr. 2013;111(3):232-236. doi:10.5546/aap.2013.232
37.
VillarrealMBelmonteVOlivaresJLAbdalaA.Trayectorias sanitarias de mujeres consumidoras de cocaína y/o cannabis durante el embarazo. Estudio de cohorte retrospectivo en La Pampa, Argentina. Rev Fac Cienc Méd Córdoba. 2020;77(2):79-85. doi:10.31053/1853.0605.v77.n2.26838
38.
Romo-AvilésNCamarottiACTarragonaATourisC.Doing gender in a toxic world. women and freebase cocaine in the city of Buenos Aires (Argentina). Subst Use Misuse. 2015;50(5):557-565. doi:10.3109/10826084.2014.991404
39.
Romo-AvilésNCamarottiAC.Haciendo género en un mundo de varones: el consumo de pasta base de cocaína entre las mujeres de la ciudad de Buenos Aires. Aljaba Segunda Época Rev Estud Mujer. 2015;19. Accessed April 1, 2024. https://cerac.unlpam.edu.ar/index.php/aljaba/article/view/1794
40.
CastillaVLorenzoG.Emociones en suspenso: maternidad y consumo de pasta base/paco en barrios marginales de Buenos Aires. Cuad Antropol Soc. 2012;(36):69-89.
41.
CruzVDOliveiraMMPinhoLBCoimbraVCKantorskiLPOliveiraJF.Sociodemographic conditions and patterns of crack use among women. Texto Contexto Enferm. 2014;23(4):1068-1076.
42.
Castillo FrancoPIGutiérrezLAD.Consumo de drogas en mujeres asistentes a centros de tratamiento especializado en la Ciudad de México. Salud Ment. 2008;31(5):351-359.
43.
de VargasDSoaresJLeonEPereiraCFPonceTD.O primeiro contato com as drogas: análise do prontuário de mulheres atendidas em um serviço especializado. Saúde Em Debate. 2015;39(106):782-791. doi:10.1590/0103-1104201510600030018
44.
JainJPStrathdeeSAPattersonTL, et al. Perceived barriers to pre-exposure prophylaxis use and the role of syndemic factors among female sex workers in the Mexico-United States border region:a latent class analysis. AIDS Care. 2020;32(5):557-566. doi:10.1080/09540121.2019.1626338
45.
KulisSSMarsigliaFFNuño-GutiérrezBLLozanoMDMedina-MoraME.Traditional gender roles and substance-use behaviors, attitudes, exposure, and resistance among early adolescents in large cities of Mexico. J Subst Use. 2018;23(5):471-480. doi:10.1080/14659891.2017.1405088
46.
HaiekRCMartinDRochaFCMRamiroFSda SilveiraDX.Uso de drogas injetáveis entre mulheres na Região Metropolitana de Santos, São Paulo, Brasil. Physis Rev Saúde Coletiva. 2016;26:917-937. doi:10.1590/S0103-73312016000300011
47.
GascaENG. Trayectoria de una joven reclusa en relación con el consumo de drogas y condicionamientos de género. Rev Salud Pública. 2017;19(6):842-847. doi:10.15446/rsap.v19n6.70058
48.
MenaEBolteGBolteG, et al. Intersectionality-based quantitative health research and sex/gender sensitivity: a scoping review. Int J Equity Health. 2019;18(1):199. doi:10.1186/s12939-019-1098-8
49.
FonsecaFRobles-MartínezMTirado-MuñozJ, et al. A gender perspective of addictive disorders. Curr Addict Rep. 2021;8(1):89-99. doi:10.1007/s40429-021-00357-9
HemsingNGreavesL.Gender norms, roles and relations and cannabis-use patterns: a scoping review. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(3):947. doi:10.3390/ijerph17030947
52.
EttorreE.Embodied deviance, gender, and epistemologies of ignorance: re-visioning drugs use in a neurochemical, unjust world. Subst Use Misuse. 2015;50(6):794-805. doi:10.3109/10826084.2015.978649
53.
StatonMCiciurkaiteGHavensJ, et al. Correlates of injection drug use among rural appalachian women. J Rural Health. 2018;34(1):31-41. doi:10.1111/jrh.12256
54.
AskewR.Functional fun: Legitimising adult recreational drug use. Int J Drug Policy. 2016;36:112-119. doi:10.1016/j.drugpo.2016.04.018
55.
BernsteinJChengDMWangNTrillaCSametJSaitzR.Recreational drug use among primary care patients: implications of a positive self-report. Ann Fam Med. 2015;13(3):257-260. doi:10.1370/afm.1750
56.
RomoNMarcosJRodriguezACabreraAHernanM.Girl power: risky sexual behaviour and gender identity amongst young Spanish recreational drug users. Sexualities. 2009;12(3):355-377. doi:10.1177/1363460709103895
57.
KiddJDPaschen-WolffMMMericleAACaceresBADrabbleLAHughesTL.A scoping review of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use treatment interventions for sexual and gender minority populations. J Subst Abuse Treat. 2022;133:108539. doi:10.1016/j.jsat.2021.108539
58.
Fagrell TryggNGustafssonPEMånsdotterA. Languishing in the crossroad? A scoping review of intersectional inequalities in mental health. Int J Equity Health. 2019;18:115. doi:10.1186/s12939-019-1012-4
59.
BordeETorres-TovarM.El territorio como categoría fundamental para el campo de la salud pública. Saúde Em Debate. 2017;41:264-275. doi:https://doi.org/10.1590/0103-11042017S222
Shirley-BeavanSRoigABurke-ShyneNDanielsCCsakR.Women and barriers to harm reduction services: a literature review and initial findings from a qualitative study in Barcelona, Spain. Harm Reduct J. 2020;17(1):78. doi:10.1186/s12954-020-00429-5
Supplementary Material
Please find the following supplemental material available below.
For Open Access articles published under a Creative Commons License, all supplemental material carries the same license as the article it is associated with.
For non-Open Access articles published, all supplemental material carries a non-exclusive license, and permission requests for re-use of supplemental material or any part of supplemental material shall be sent directly to the copyright owner as specified in the copyright notice associated with the article.
