Enhanced Access to Social Support Programs Boosts Treatment for Women with Drug Use Disorders
A new study reveals that combining Medicaid with social support services significantly increases treatment access for women with drug and opioid use disorders. Expanded social safety net programs can help address treatment gaps and barriers faced by women with substance use issues.
Recent research from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health highlights the significant role of social safety net programs in increasing treatment rates among women with drug use disorders (DUD) and opioid use disorder (OUD). The study emphasizes that women enrolled in Medicaid who also receive additional support services such as childcare, employment assistance, and SNAP benefits are markedly more likely to access drug treatment and medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD).
Published in the merican Journal of Preventive Medicine, the research sheds light on how integrated safety net services can address longstanding gaps in treatment access for women facing substance use issues. According to Dr. Silvia Martins, a leading epidemiologist involved in the study, Medicaid plays a crucial role in facilitating treatment access, but additional supports are essential to overcoming barriers like caregiving responsibilities and financial instability.
The study analyzed data from the 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, covering responses from 2,784 women aged 18-64 with recent DSM-5 diagnosed DUD and 458 women with OUD. Results demonstrated that women receiving both Medicaid and supplementary assistance were significantly more likely to report receiving MOUD compared to those with no aid. Interestingly, less than one in six women with DUD reported any form of drug treatment in the past year.
The findings also revealed gender disparities, with fewer women than men receiving MOUD—highlighting the need for targeted interventions. Even without Medicaid, receiving any government support was linked to higher treatment odds. Researchers advocate for policies that integrate treatment with access to social services, such as housing, transportation, vocational training, and childcare, to effectively reduce structural barriers.
This research underscores the importance of comprehensive, multi-faceted support systems in improving treatment engagement for women suffering from substance use disorders, suggesting that expanding such programs could substantially reduce unmet treatment needs.
Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-06-treatment-women-drug-disorder-access.html
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