This master’s thesis examines gender differences in patterns of addiction and the socio-cultural influences on the use of alcohol and other psychoactive substances. It focuses on how gender, stigma, and cultural expectations shape the experiences of men and women with addiction, as well as their opportunities for entering treatment and rehabilitation processes. The theoretical part presents a review of Slovenian and international scientific and professional literature on addiction, gender, stigma, and gender-sensitive approaches to treatment. The empirical part is based on a qualitative study involving twelve semi-structured interviews with service users and staff members in programmes providing support to people with addiction. The findings show that, among women, addiction is more often associated with trauma, abuse, shame, concealment of substance use, and motherhood, whereas among men it is more often linked to peer group influence, the normalization of drinking, the performance of masculinity, and limited space for expressing vulnerability. The study further shows that addiction cannot be understood or addressed as a gender-neutral phenomenon; therefore, the development of more effective forms of support requires treatment programmes and professional interventions to systematically take into account not only individual differences, but also the influence of social norms, stigma, traumatic experiences, and gendered life circumstances.
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