Study urges more support for women battling addiction [SOUND]

# New research by Stellenbosch University highlighted the urgent need for women-centred addiction treatment, saying many women face barriers that prevent them from accessing care. Researcher Danyschka Jacobs says stigma, poverty, trauma, childcare responsibilities, and fear of losing their children often delay women from seeking help. She says women-specific treatment facilities remain limited and many existing programmes fail to meet their needs. Jacobs is calling for government funding and trauma-informed, gender-responsive services: