This work focuses on the prevalence of drug addiction in women and explores the various barriers to recovery which impact on women's processes of recovery, including the social and psychological difficulties that women might experience. Various theoretical perspectives are considered. Abuse and trauma, stigma and labelling theory are also discussed. This work also incorporates the author's own personal experiences with drug addiction and recovery and utilizes those experiences to support or negate the available literature on the topic of women and their recovery pathways.