Lived Experience of Women with Substance Use Disorder: A Qualitative Study

Abstract Substance use disorder among women is a multifaceted condition shaped by individual, familial, social, and economic determinants, with profound consequences for mental health, maternal roles, and overall quality of life. Understanding the lived experiences of affected women is essential for developing effective, gender-sensitive interventions. This qualitative study employed a conventional content analysis approach and was conducted in 2026 in healthcare centers in a city in the southeastern region. Participants were randomly selected from all healthcare centers in the study area. Thirty women were enrolled. Data were collected through semi-structured individual interviews and analyzed concurrently using Graneheim and Lundman’s method with MAXQDA 2020. Trustworthiness was ensured using Lincoln and Guba’s criteria. Five main themes emerged: (1) initiating and perpetuating factors—including childhood trauma, chronic physical pain, spousal encouragement, bereavement, and cultural misconceptions; (2) barriers to cessation—fear of withdrawal, financial constraints, concurrent spousal use, hopelessness, and low distress tolerance; (3) individual and family consequences—guilt, maternal role disruption, social isolation, and mental health deterioration; (4) social and structural factors—poverty, economic dependence, unemployment, and inadequate institutional support; and (5) participants’ proposed solutions—financial assistance, employment opportunities, accessible psychological services, family support, and free women-centered treatment facilities. The findings highlight a complex interaction of individual, relational, and structural forces, with pharmacological treatment alone proving insufficient. The cultural context of this region—characterized by traditional opioid use for pain management, patriarchal family structures, and limited women-centered services—profoundly shapes these experiences. The lived experiences of these women underscore the urgent need for comprehensive, multidisciplinary, and gender-responsive approaches. Integrating trauma-informed care, mental health services, couple therapy, economic empowerment, and social support into treatment protocols can enhance recovery outcomes and improve quality of life for this population.