SAOL is an integrated programme of education, rehabilitation, advocacy and childcare. The SAOL Project’s on-going commitment to the women, children and community members of the North Inner City continues to develop, responding to the changing needs of the women who participate in our project with creativity and commitment.

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SAOL has worked over the last 27 years to promote the needs of female drug users and their children. We work with women at any point along the continuum of change, supporting women who are changing their relationship with drugs, maintaining their stability with prescribed substances and/or choose to be drug free. 

We try to highlight the many extra difficulties that face women who use drugs including the stigma attached to being a mother who uses drugs, fears about the impact drug use might be having on their children but also fears about losing children because of their drug use. While all of these are reasons that can attract women to treatment, they are also reasons why women tend to stay away from sources of help. At best there is a ratio of 2:1 men to women in drug treatment; throughout Europe that figure lengthens to 3:1. Women who use drugs have different needs to men who use drugs. A strong and confident voice is required to shout out that female drug users have needs that are not always recognised or met by the services they attend. SAOL is dedicated to improving the services for female drug users in general and particularly for our area - we call on all service providers to examine their response to women and adjust their practice appropriately.