Transcript Slide 1

Prescription Drugs and Abuse in
Women:
A Community Perspective
Prescription Drugs and Abuse in
Women: A Community Perspective
• One person dies every 19 minutes from
prescription drug abuse in the United States
(CDC)
• According to the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC) an estimate of twenty –
seven thousand unintentional drug overdose
deaths occurred in 2007
Prescription Drugs and Abuse in
Women: A Community Perspective
• The CDC reports the two main groups at risk
for prescription drug overdose are the nine
million people who report long-term medical
use of opioids – and the roughly 5 million
people who have used opioids without
prescription or medical need
Prescription Drugs and Abuse in
Women: A Community Per
• Seventy percent of females who responded to
the Waismann Method Opiate Survey
confirmed that their dependence began after
taking legitimate doctor-prescribed
medication.
• Fifty Percent of the who answered the survey
received prescription from only one doctor
and 31 percent sought treatment from
multiple doctors.
Prescription Drugs and Abuse in
Women: A Community Perspective
• For fifty percent of the female respondents
withdrawal symptoms were the number one
reason they were not able to stop taking the drug
without help.
• Thirty-one percent of women obtained their
prescription medication by ordering over the
internet.
• Of the female respondents 52 percent were
married at the time of treatment and 64 percent
had children.
Prescription Drugs and Abuse in
Women: A Community Perspective
• One person dies every 19 minutes from
prescription drug abuse in the United States.
Prescription Drugs and Abuse in
Women: A Community Perspective
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Vicodin
Oxycontin
Lortab
Percocet
Norco
Suboxone
Non-Prescription Methadone
Subutex
Prescription Drugs and Abuse in
Women: A community Perspective
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Roxicodine
Darvocet
Dilaudid
Poppy Tea
Tussionex
Demerol
Fentanyl
Why do some Women Abuse Opiates
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Genetic factors.
To feel a sense of belonging or safety.
Introduced to drug(s) by parents at early age.
Introduced to drug(s) by peers and/or by
boyfriend as a teen.
• Experimental use that progressed to abuse
and eventually to addiction.
• Underlying mental health issues.
Why do some Women Abuse Opiates
• Prescribed by physician
• “ Opiates gives me energy”
Why can’t they just stop taking opiates
• The opiate addicted female can’t stop craving
the pills as the high wears off after frequent
use.
• Have developed a higher tolerance.
• Feel the need to continue using to ward off
severe symptoms of withdrawal.
• It’s those severe withdrawal symptoms that
can push addicted women to take drastic
measures to get their pills
Risks
• Prescription cut off after opiate abuse is
detected by physician.
• Began to purchase pills off the streets.
• Putting self and often time children at risk for
harm when searching for drugs.
• Pill cost on the streets too expensive-heroin is
much cheaper.
• Introduced to injecting the drug (IDU) for
quicker and more intense high.
Risks
• Sexual exploitation (multiple sex partners)
• Risk for HIV/AIDS – Hepatitis and other
sexually transmitted diseases increases
• Physically and emotionally abused.
• Overdose and death (not concerned about
dying-the drug overrides the risk of death.
How can Women Get Help
• Majority of women eventually have run-in with
law/sent to jail and or court ordered to treatment
• Family members and/or spouse encourage
treatment.
• Hospitalization due to suicidal attempt and at
release hospital treatment plan recommends
substance abuse treatment.
• Volunteer or self admit to Substance Abuse
Treatment Program.
Barriers that hinders women from
accessing treatment
• Mental Health issues not addressed in
treatment and may not have been diagnosed
• Not many treatment programs are designed to
focus specifically on women’s issues.
• Shame and Guilt unresolved issues related to
behaviors attached to activities during active
addiction.
• Lost custody or child(ren) – abortions –
adoptions.
Barriers that Hinders Women from
accessing treatment
• Unresolved family of origin issues.
• Unresolved abuse (sexual) issues.
Treatment Options
• Residential Treatment and detoxification.
• Intensive Out Patient Treatment (IOP)
• Methadone Treatment (MMT) – Methadone is
a synthetic opiate that suppresses symptoms
of withdrawal when it is controlled.
Literature Review
• Effectiveness of Substance Abuse Treatment
Programming for Women: A Review – Ashley,
Marsden and Thomas – The American Journal
of Drug and Alcohol Abuse (Vol. 29, No 1. pp
19-53, 2003)
• Women with Co-Occurring Serious Mental
Illness and Substance Use Disorder – the
NSDUH Report (National Survey on Drug Use
and Health (August 20, 2004)
Literature Review
• Women and Addiction in the United States –
1920 to the Present. Stephen R. Kandall, M.D
• Substance abuse treatment entry, retention and
outcome in women: A review of the literature.
Greenfield, Brooks, Gordon, Green, Kropp,
McHugh, Lincoln, Hien and Miele. Drug and
Alcohol Dependence 86 (2007) 1-21
• Women a d Addiction (Alcohol and Opiates):
Comparative Analysis of Psychosocial Aspects.
Raketic, Branka, Gajic,S., Gajic.T, and Mirjana
Special Recognition
• Kristen Bachmann
• Kimberly Doss
• Fancy Cupps