The Importance of Studying Sex and Gender Differences in Opioid Misuse

R. Kathryn McHugh

doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.30676

Abstract

Invited commentary: After decades of underrepresentation of females in preclinical and clinical research, there are substantial gaps in knowledge about opioid misuse in girls and women. As the difference in opioid misuse prevalence between men and women—characterized historically by a higher prevalence among men—narrows, the need to fill these knowledge gaps is becoming even more urgent.....

Highlights

The study by Bagley and colleagues[3] provides important and timely information about trends in nonfatal opioid overdoses in adolescents and young adults, an age group with unique risk
Bagley and colleagues[3] found that among youths and young adults with history of nonfatal opioid overdose, psychiatric comorbidity was more common in girls and young women than their male peers
This is consistent with findings from McHugh et al[4] that suggest that among adults with opioid use disorder, psychiatric comorbidity is more prominent in women than men

Summary

Introduction

The study by Bagley and colleagues[3] provides important and timely information about trends in nonfatal opioid overdoses in adolescents and young adults, an age group with unique risk. Bagley and colleagues[3] found that among youths and young adults with history of nonfatal opioid overdose, psychiatric comorbidity was more common in girls and young women than their male peers.

Results

Conclusion