Facts About Women & Substance Abuse
- Alcohol is the drug most commonly used by women.
- For every $1 invested in long term recovery care, $7 is saved in terms of costs associated with substance abuse including healthcare, social services, insurance, and costs associated with crime.
- There is a direct link between homelessness and substance abuse.
- Homeless women struggling with addictions are 20 times more likely to be sexually assaulted.
- 80% of federally sentenced women have substance abuse addictions.
- 82% of federally sentenced women have experienced physical and/or sexual abuse in their lifetimes.
- Of the 12 women murdered between 1985 - 1999 in Nova Scotia, 7 were struggling with addictions.