Gender violence experienced by women who use drugs

Background
Women who use drugs have a higher rate of gender violence, which means, many of them have stated to be suffering or have suffered gender violence. In this sense, other researchers point out a 3 or 5 times higher prevalence of gender violence in women who suffer from addiction comparing to general population. Moreover, inside Catalonia previous results suggest that between 40-80% of women who survive violence are drug users. 
On the other hand, in 2020 was approved the Law 17/2020 which modifies Law 5/2008 expanding both the forms and scopes of gender violence in Catalonia. Inside this regulatory framework is pointed out the necessity to deepen into the vital experiences of women who use drugs with respect to the violence that gathers the law. 
Methods
This study is done through qualitative methodology. The sample selected was diverse regarding to the most common inequality axes (gender, migration status, mental Health, homelessness...) were represented. The methodology used known as the Life Story Approach, which is part of the biographical narrative interpretative method (Thomas and Znaniecki 1972), consists on collecting qualitative data from the oral narration of the participants. 
The life stories of 14 women are analyzed through individual interviews until reaching the saturation of the discourse (14 women) and two focus groups in which 10 of the women participated.  
Results
It was selected a sample of 14 women between 30 and 64 years old. Some characteristics of their life trajectories were that 7 of them are active users, 8 have persistent health problems (HIV, Diabetes, depression, etc.) and 3 have been deprived of their freedom for some years. 8 of them have a spanish nacionality, the remaining 6 are foreign. 11 are ciswomen and 3 are transwomen or non-binary. 11 women have sons or daughters. 12 live in urban environments. 5 are homeless.
The results indicate that all women participating in the study had experienced at least one type of gender violence either from the partner or the family. All women interviewed express having experienced psychological violence (abandonment, humiliation, harassment, etc.) and most of them have also experienced situations of physical and sexual violence.
The experiences of violence reported in the workplace have to do with the practice of sexual work and home care. The majority of women have stated that they have experienced some situation of institutional violence by social services, child protection services, health services or security forces.
Conclusion
Women's stories confirmed our four initial premises. Gender inequality is an aggravating factor of the situation of risk or vulnerability (double penalisation, breakdown of the expected role, etc.). Institutional violence is exercise against women who use drugs. The use of drugs by women is a coping strategy. Violence and drug use are strongly related factors.