By Adegbite Hauwa for International Women’s Day 2025.
In Nigeria, being a woman who uses drugs is a death sentence before the drugs even take their toll. Society sees her as a lost cause, a cautionary tale, a disgrace. Healthcare providers see her the same way.
When Blessing, a 29-year-old woman from Lagos, sought treatment for tuberculosis, the first question wasn’t about her symptoms but about her lifestyle. She was labeled an addict, a criminal, and a woman unworthy of care. The nurse barely masked her disdain as she administered her medication. Blessing never returned for follow-ups.
Women who use drugs are three times more likely to contract HIV than those who don’t. They are more likely to experience gender-based violence, yet they are denied access to essential healthcare. Fear of arrest, humiliation, or outright refusal keeps many from seeking medical help. Nigeria’s drug policies focus on punishment rather than harm reduction, forcing women into the shadows where unsafe drug use and untreated infections flourish.
Gender-responsive healthcare policies must move beyond abstinence-based programs. Needle exchange services, safe injection sites, and mental health support should be integral parts of national health systems. Healthcare workers must be trained to treat addiction as a medical issue, not a moral failing.
To policymakers: Criminalization has failed. Women who use drugs deserve to be seen, heard, and treated with dignity. If we truly care about public health, then harm reduction isn’t just an option—it’s a necessity. It’s time to rewrite the narrative and ensure that every woman, regardless of her past or choices, has a future.
