This event will show why gender is important in understanding drinking, alcohol-related harm, recovery and family support. We will explore the double standards which are applied to men and women’s drinking, the ways in which alcohol marketing targets men and women, and why gender matters in terms of family support and recovery. This session is led by the Substance Use & Misuse research group at Glasgow Caledonian University and Scottish Families affected by Alcohol & Drugs, and includes expert input from Alcohol Focus Scotland, and families who have been affected by substance use.

BIOGRAPHIES

Dr Carol Emslie leads the Substance Use & Misuse research group at Glasgow Caledonian University. Her work focuses on gender and drinking across the lifecourse. Recent research involved an analysis of newspaper representations of men and women’s ‘binge’ drinking, an exploration of drinking in midlife and the social context of drinking in LGBT communities. The Substance Use & Misuse Research Group works closely with the third sector and engages extensively with practitioners, policy makers, and the public through blogs and social media (@SubMisuseGcu has > 2000 followers), and presentations at public events and the Scottish Parliament.

Dr Justina Murray leads Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs, which has an ongoing commitment to recognise and support families affected by someone’s substance use. She has a strong background in research, policy and partnership working, having previously held roles as Chief Officer of South West Scotland Community Justice Authority, Community Planning Coordinator for the North Ayrshire Community Planning Partnership and the Equal Employment Opportunities Trust in New Zealand.

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