title: Substance use and women's health.
abstract: Scientific findings show that substance abuse in women yields a higher risk of a variety of health problems than substance abuse in men. 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior-Division of Substance Abuse, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Abigail
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kay
authors.forename: Trusandra E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Andrea G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Barthwell
authors.forename: Jana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wichelecki
authors.forename: Vera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Leopold
mesh_terms: D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology*; D004522:Educational Status; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011203:Poverty; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D016387:Women's Health