Abstract
Due to gender differences and the more negative societal perception of women’s addiction, this group tends to conceal their substance use as much as possible. Due to the stigmas associated with addiction, women often isolate themselves from society — a challenge that persists even after recovery and reintegration, continuing to exert negative effects on their lives. As a result, the way family members and society respond to individuals with addiction significantly influences both the course of their substance use and the effectiveness of treatment efforts. The present study seeks to answer the question: How does society confront and respond to women’s addiction? The study population consisted of ordinary citizens from the provinces of Tehran and Alborz. A total of 32 individuals participated in the research. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews. The participants were selected using purposive sampling, and the collected data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings were categorized into 15 sub-themes and 6 main themes, which are: criminalization of addiction; denial, elimination, and concealment of women’s addiction; increased importance of women’s addiction; questioning myth-making regarding women’s roles in the family; women’s addiction as promiscuity; and invisible of the addiction issue by the dominant social discourse. The results indicated that women’s addiction has raised societal concerns about the spread of this phenomenon and its consequences. Moreover, it has drawn the attention of policymakers and national planners, entering public discourse and prompting demands for a shift in how society addresses women’s addiction.
Keywords: Women, Gender, Addiction, Ordinary Citizens, Social Construction.

1. Introduction
Although substance abuse has traditionally been perceived as a predominantly male phenomenon in most societies, structural transformations in gender role systems have led to a growing number of female substance users over the past two decades. Both global and national reports indicate that women’s share in the consumption of various substances—including stimulants, opioids, and sedatives—is steadily increasing and approaching parity with men. This upward trend exposes women to specific risks such as heightened social vulnerability, faster dependency development, increased likelihood of contracting diseases like HIV/AIDS, and more hazardous patterns of use. While the prevalence of addiction remains higher among men, the severe individual, familial, and societal consequences associated with female addiction necessitate specialized policy attention and a deeper understanding of this population.
Nevertheless, women’s addiction remains largely absent from the public sphere and is often accompanied by stigmatization, exclusion, social shame, and entrenched negative stereotypes. In a patriarchal culture shaped by moral norms, female substance abuse is regarded as far more unacceptable than male addiction, leading to significantly lower participation of women in treatment and harm reduction programs. In many cases, family roles, lack of support, and negative societal attitudes toward addicted women limit their access to health, treatment, and support services. Accordingly, the present study seeks to gain a deeper understanding of public perceptions of women’s addiction, prevailing stereotypes, and patterns of societal responses to this phenomenon.
In Iran, studies on women’s addiction that adopt a labeling or social constructionist approach and explore the consequences of social reactions to this issue are limited. Therefore, there is a need for further research in this area. Women’s addiction should be addressed with attention to its gender-specific features and should not remain marginalized. Therefore, the present study seeks to explore how addiction among women is perceived and understood within the study population. Based on these perceptions, what types of societal responses are shaped toward women with addiction? Does a discriminatory structure exist in the way addicted women are treated? What kinds of gendered stereotypes have been formed around this issue? The focus of this research is on the provinces of Tehran and Alborz, as evidence suggests that the prevalence and visibility of this phenomenon in these regions are significantly higher than in other parts of the country.

2. Research Method
This research was conducted with a qualitative approach and based on interpretivist logic. The data collection method was semi-structured interviews with 32 citizens from Tehran and Alborz provinces. Participants were selected through purposeful sampling from various social strata and groups to ensure diversity in attitudes and experiences. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis based on the six-step framework of Braun and Clarke.
3. Findings
The analysis of the collected data led to the extraction of six main themes and fifteen sub-themes. These themes reflect how society confronts women’s addiction and the consequences that follow.
1. Criminalization of Women’s Addiction: Addicted women are perceived not only as patients but also as criminals or moral and social threats. This perception leads to their rejection, distrust, and exposure to structural violence.
2. Denial, Elimination, and Concealment of Women’s Addiction: The patriarchal cultural structure compels women to conceal their addiction. Denial of addiction by both the woman herself and her family prevents the initiation of treatment and access to social support.
3. Women’s Addiction Considered More Significant and Different than Men’s: Because women are assigned crucial roles such as motherhood, being a spouse, and managing the household, their addiction is regarded as a more important social issue compared to men’s. As a result, they face heightened social pressure.
4. Challenging the Mythical Role of Women in the Family: Addiction undermines the idealized image of women as self-sacrificing mothers, loyal wives, and emotional anchors of the family. This collapse intensifies stigmatization and leads to more severe social exclusion.
5. Women’s Addiction as a Symbol of Promiscuity: Women with substance use disorders are more frequently subjected to social stigmatization than their male counterparts, as society often perceives their behaviors as “doubly deviant” and morally transgressive.
6. and invisible of the addiction issue by the dominant social discourse: Due to the taboo nature of the issue and prevailing gender stereotypes, women’s addiction is often overlooked and receives limited attention from support institutions, the media, and policymakers.
4. Conclusion
The findings of this study indicate that women’s addiction in Iranian society is a social, cultural, and gendered phenomenon that is heavily influenced by patriarchal attitudes, gender stereotypes, and traditional moral norms. These attitudes lead to social constructions such as criminalizing, denial, concealment, and associating women’s addiction with immorality. Such perceptions cause addicted women, out of fear of social exclusion, stigmatization, and dishonor, to hide their addiction and avoid seeking treatment and support services. As a result, they are excluded from rehabilitation processes and reintegration into normal life, which further exacerbates their vulnerability.
In this regard, the findings reveal that structural discrimination and neglect of women’s specific needs within the treatment and support systems have become significant barriers to effective recovery and rehabilitation. Addicted women are not only struggling with substance dependence but are also victims of a culture and social structure marked by inequality. Therefore, it is essential to acknowledge women’s addiction as a social reality and to create a supportive environment for their treatment and empowerment by revising dominant attitudes. Policy reforms, the development of gender-sensitive and culturally responsive services, and the reduction of social stigma are critical steps toward addressing this silent crisis and reintegrating women into a healthy social life.