This paper deals with the issue of heterogeneity in drug addicted groups/people, emphasizing women's specifics. A concise survey of the literature on drugs phenomenon and health of works reporting the use of gender as an empiric variable is presented. Differences were found in drug consumption habits between men and women. Moreover, women's habits were shown to be influenced by specifics regarding both epidemiologic aspects and socio cultural elements. The main gender differences were observed on consumption rate, kind of drug, age, mortality and comorbidity. Concerning women groups, the main differences were found relating both kind of drug versus age and treatment seek versus kind of activity developed in the health unit. Examination of the data leads to the conclusion that assistance to drug users should take specifics of groups/people into account.
Street drugs; Gender Indentity; Women's Health