Women experiencing menopause can be considered to be at a greater risk of physical or mental harm as they approach and experience menopause and are using alcohol/other drugs. The number of women attending hospital due to alcohol dependency who are over 50 is increasing at an alarming rate. This course is an introduction to working with women who use alcohol and other drugs and are approaching or experiencing menopause.
Women who are experiencing menopause and using alcohol /other drugs dependently often face significant challenges around managing their alcohol use, the physical and mental symptoms of menopause plus social changes around their identity.
This course, aimed at practitioners within drug and alcohol service, will explore some of these issues and challenges and provide tools for supporting women to make choices to manage their well-being effectively.
Learning Objectives
Understanding gendered experiences of women accessing alcohol/other drugs
Understanding the stages of menopause menopause
Understanding the physical, mental and social impact on women of the menopause and how it might affect substance use
Explore the risks around alcohol /other drug use on the women experiencing the menopause
Identify and practice tools and strategies to reduce the harm women might be experiencing