“There’s a big tag on my head”: exploring barriers to treatment seeking with women who use methamphetamine in Sydney, Australia

Table 1 Participant characteristics

Demographic	Number (%)
Total sample	11
Gender (identified as woman)	11 (100)
Age range in years
25-35	2 (9)
36-40	2 (18)
41-45	4 (36)
46+	3 (27)
Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander	3 (27)
Sexual Orientation
Heterosexual	7 (63)
Bisexual/Queer	4 (37)
Relationship Status
In a relationship	6 (55)
Experiencing Homelessness	5 (45)
Mode of MA use
Injecting	11 (100)
Smoking	2 (18)
Frequency of use (last 30 days)
> 2 times per week	11 (100)
Daily	7 (63)
Duration of frequent use
< 5 years	5 (45)
5-10 years	4 (37)
> 20 years	2 (18)
Methamphetamine dependence
SDS ≥4	8 (72)
Self-reported dependence	7 (63)
Other Drugs – use/self-reported dependence
Opiates	10 (90) / 7 (63)
Alcohol	11 (100) / 1 (1)
Tobacco	10 (90) / 7 (63)
Gamma-hydroxybutyrate/Gamma-Butyrolactone	8 (72) / 0 (0)
Cannabis	11 (100) / 3 (27)
Benzodiazepines	10 (90) / 2 (18)
Methamphetamine related harms
Physical^a	10 (90)
Mental^b	6 (55)
Social^c	11 (100)

^aHeart disease, cardiac stents, chest pain, bacterial endocarditis, oral decay, skin abscesses, staphylococcus infections, chest pain, hepatitis, persistent cough
^bPsychosis, severe mood swings, depression, anxiety, paranoia, hallucinations
^cIntimate partner violence, domestic violence, violence, imprisonment, loss of custody of children, debt, gambling, poverty, homelessness

ISSN: 1472-6963