NCJ Number
230857
Journal
Journal of Addictive Diseases Volume: 29 Issue: 2 Dated: April-June 2010 Pages: 139-163
Date Published
April 2010
Length
25 pages
Annotation
Scientific findings show that substance abuse in women yields a higher risk of a variety of health problems than substance abuse in men.
Abstract
Research suggests that women experience addiction telescoping when they abuse alcohol, tobacco, specific stimulants, and possibly opioids. Medical side effects also develop more rapidly in women than men when they abuse many substances. Cancer and cardiac complications, specifically, pose a significant threat for women who abuse almost all types of substances. However, the physical consequences are not the only ones women suffer when they engage in substance abuse. Research on substance abuse in women ties opioids to mood and anxiety disorders, heroin to neurological deficiencies, cocaine to immune system suppression, and alcohol to intimate partner abuse. Additionally, female substance abusers, on average, have a lower level of education and lower rates of employment. In light of these gender-specific concerns, physicians should give particular consideration to detecting substance abuse in women. 221 references (Published Abstract)