The time until relapse has been described as similar for both genders, but women take longer to relapse in heavy drinking. The reasons for relapse in alcohol use are different for men and women; women tend to relapse to cope with negative affect, whereas men relapse due to social pressure to drink 12••. No clear differences have been described in terms of pharmacological response in alcohol treatments (naltrexone and acamprosate). Also, in the case of prescription opioid addiction, no differences in terms of response have been described 15. Substance use disorders (SUD) are complex and chronic diseases influenced by genetic, environmental, and social factors. Women present distinct epidemiology, natural history, course, and response to treatment in SUD.
Neurobiological Basis of Sex Differences
However, recent trends indicate that the gender gap is narrowing, with increasing substance use among women. The rate is disproportionate to the prevalence rates for men and women with different types of substance use disorders. Men in recovery appear to have longer average periods of abstinence than women do as a group, but substance use disorder treatment is effective for males and females equally.
- When available, the rates regarding gender differences in the diagnosis of substance use disorders come from the American Psychiatric Association’s (APA) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – Fifth Edition.
- Women may be more likely to overdose and die of an overdose with this class of drugs than men.
- Some research suggests that women may be more likely to use prescription opioids without a prescription than men.
- Let’s explore the key statistics and trends that highlight how substance abuse and addiction manifest differently across genders.
- Substance use disorders (SUD) are complex and chronic diseases influenced by genetic, environmental, and social factors.
Updated Overdose Statistics 2024: Trends in Drug-Related Deaths
Likewise, rates of past-year marijuana use have increased in both genders from 2007–2014. However, this increase has been greater among men, thus widening the gender gap in marijuana use (+4.4% for men vs. +2.7% for women; reflecting past-year prevalence of 16.9% and 10.1% in 2014, respectively) (Carliner et al., 2017). Substance abuse and addiction affect millions of people worldwide, but the impact and patterns of use can vary significantly between men and women.
Pain management and addiction
The prevalence of stimulant use disorder difference between drugs and alcohol as a result of cocaine use is estimated to be 0.4 percent among males and 0.1 percent among females. Although animal research has suggested that female rodents are more sensitive to the reinforcing effects of cannabis products than males, the data indicates that fewer women than men use marijuana. The legalization of marijuana in many states may result in some evening out of use between men and women. Research studies have suggested that the smoking behavior of females differs from males. Females may smoke fewer cigarettes per day, may not inhale as deeply as men do, and maybe more likely to use cigarettes with lower nicotine or tar counts. Rates of tobacco use disorders are slightly higher among adult males (14 percent) than females (12 percent) in the United States.
Recovering From Addiction
In 2016, 27 men died per day from prescription opioid overdose, compared to 19 women per day. Conversely, the rate of opioid-related deaths among women climbed 596% between 1999 and 2016 (deaths among men increased 312%). Thus, women are at greater risk for a range of medical, psychiatric, and psychosocial consequences that must be considered when identifying pharmacological and/or behavioral interventional strategies females may benefit greatly, and that may differ from those most beneficial for men. For these reasons, it is important to guarantee access to the appropriate treatment of females who use substances and a need for a gender perspective in the treatment and research of substance use disorders. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force alcoholism recommends that tobacco use should be assessed in all pregnant women, with behavioral interventions identified as the first line of care (Siu, 2015). For example, contingency management (Tappin et al., 2015) and cognitive-behavioral therapy have demonstrated efficacy for smoking cessation in pregnant women (Lee et al., 2015).
Illicit Drug Use
Men who face trauma from combat turn to substance abuse to deal with the symptoms more often, as well. Historically, addiction research focused predominantly on men, but since the 1990s, the inclusion of women in studies has revealed distinct patterns and trends in substance use disorders (SUD) between genders. Historically, men have shown higher rates of substance use, abuse, and dependence compared to women.
General differences in how people’s bodies handle alcohol
Despite having used less of the substance and for a shorter period of time (later onset), the escalation of severity and decline in functionality is more rapid (telescoping effect, described before). Sex differences in neuroendocrine adaptations to stress and reward systems may mediate women’s susceptibility to drug abuse and relapse 53. Several studies have https://ecosoberhouse.com/ examined sex differences in stress response (e.g., subjective, autonomic) and relapse 53, 54.
First, men have higher brain concentrations of glutamate in the prefrontal cortex 46, but in the cerebellum and the striatum, the concentrations are higher in women 47. The levels of glutamate and glutamate receptor expression are also variable through the menstrual cycle, probably due to a regulation of the glutamate system by sexual hormones. Women might be less likely to start using, but once they do, they increase their consumption of drugs and alcohol much more quickly than men, data shows.
Environmental Factors: the Role of Intimate Partner Violence
Effective prevention and treatment must address the unique challenges faced by people from all backgrounds. Ecstasy is also incredibly dehydrating and impairs the body’s ability to purge excess water and reduce blood sodium levels. When a dehydrated individual on ecstasy begins drinking large amounts of water, their brain cells could hold on to that water instead of releasing it. Get professional help from an online addiction and mental health counselor from BetterHelp. You and your community can take steps to improve everyone’s health and quality of life. Insights from the Substance Use in Women Research Report—available from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)—answers these questions and more.
According to the APA, women are more likely to use illicit substances in an attempt to self-medicate themselves (either to deal with physical issues like fatigue or pain or to deal with stress). Abuse of opioids has taken center stage in the United States due to the opioid epidemic. Opioids are powerful central nervous system depressant medications that comprise a large group of illicit drugs and prescription medications. Females tend to have higher death rates (50 to 100 percent higher) than men from alcohol abuse or alcohol-related issues. This includes deaths from alcohol-related disorders like stroke or liver disease, cancer, suicide, or alcohol-related accidents. Human and animal studies suggest that estrogen plays a role in the dopamine “reward” effects of stimulants like cocaine and methamphetamine.
