Technology-Based Substance Use Interventions: Opportunities for Gender-Transformative Health Promotion.

Julie Stinson,Lindsay Wolfson,Nancy Poole

doi:10.3390/ijerph17030992

Abstract

Drawing on data from a scoping review on sex, gender and substance use, this narrative review explores the use of gender-informed and technology-based approaches in substance use prevention and health promotion interventions. With an ever-changing landscape of new technological developments, an understanding of how technology-based interventions can address sex, gender, and intersecting equity considerations related to substance use is warranted. Current technology-based approaches to substance use prevention and health promotion are described and assessed for gender-specific and gender transformative outcomes, and limitations are discussed related to inclusivity, access, confidentiality, and a dearth of research on technological approaches that integrate gender-based analysis. A call for action designed to advance technology-based health promotion, prevention and brief interventions that address gender equity simultaneously with substance use is proposed.

Highlights

Substance use prevention and treatment interventions have employed directive, gender-blind and abstinence-oriented approaches [1,2,3,4,5,6,7]
Other gender-mediated reasons for smoking cessation have demonstrated that men are more likely to quit as a result of tobacco policy, and that social unacceptability is more closely associated with quitting among women [13]
The purpose of this review was to provide an examination of how technology-based substance use prevention approaches have integrated gender-informed health promotion and harm reduction, and how sex, gender and intersecting factors of age, race, and socioeconomic status related to substance use are, or are not, being achieved in these efforts

Summary

Introduction

Substance use prevention and treatment interventions have employed directive, gender-blind and abstinence-oriented approaches [1,2,3,4,5,6,7]. The gendered factors, influences, and differences as to how individuals respond to substance use prevention and cessation cannot be ignored. Other gender-mediated reasons for smoking cessation have demonstrated that men are more likely to quit as a result of tobacco policy, and that social unacceptability is more closely associated with quitting among women [13]. Such gender-informed influences are integral to understanding how to approach substance use health promotion, prevention and brief intervention efforts

Objectives

Methods

Findings

Conclusion