Drug Use In Women Research Articles

“A Double Decline in Character”: A Grounded Theory Analysis of Female Drug User Experiences in Iran

Using a constructivist grounded theory design, this study explores the perception and experience of Iranian women living with drug use, identifying everyday conflicts and coping strategies that enable them to manage their situation. We conducted unstructured, in-depth interviews with abstinent drug users (11) and healthcare professionals (2) at three rehab centers in Tehran, Iran. In line with our grounded theory aspirations to explore the social meanings of women's drug use and addiction, we supplemented the interviews with a surrounding material consisting of articles published in the main national newspaper from 2015 to 2018 and a film documentary (10 parts, 3 h) entitled “Iranian Women of Addiction,” ( Shab boohay-e-sokhteh) (2010–2011). Our analysis resulted in two main bundles of meaning-making that we claim are permeating the everyday lives of Iranian women with drug use: the double decline in character, and self-shielding. The study reveals the simultaneous presence of two stigmatized identities: drug use and sex work ( fahsha). It shows that the stigma of sex work is closely connected to a drug-related identity, irrespective of whether women are actively involved in sex work or not. The findings illustrate how societal views are biased against drug user women in the domain of drug use, diminishing their presence and voice. The interviewees tried to manage by developing a peer network, adopting a protective role, and becoming intrinsically motivated to quit drug use. The study furthers our understanding of women's alarming and complex realities in traditional Islamic and familistic patriarchal structures.

Challenges and recommendations for overdose prevention and harm reduction in an era of fentanyl and xylazine: Perspectives of women with opioid use disorder and professionals.

The current qualitative study examines the perspectives of women with opioid use disorder (OUD) and professionals that serve them on barriers to engaging in overdose prevention and harm reduction practices and recommendations for improving engagement. Semistructured interviews (N = 42) were conducted with women with a history of OUD (n = 20), substance use disorder treatment professionals (n = 12), and criminal legal professionals (n = 10). The interviews were inductively coded to identify themes and subthemes regarding experiences with overdose and harm reduction practices. Themes included heightened vulnerability to overdose, harm reduction challenges faced by women with OUD, and recommendations for overdose prevention and harm reduction practices. Heightened vulnerability to overdose included concerns about toxic supply and concerns about women's drug use behaviors. Challenges to women's harm reduction engagement included lack of knowledge and education about harm reduction tools and strategies and continued stigma toward harm reduction practices. Finally, recommendations for improving harm reduction engagement included increasing accessibility of harm reduction tools, expanding harm reduction education, and shifting away from "abstinence-only" paradigms. Finding ways to teach women with OUD about harm reduction, more effectively distribute harm reduction tools to them, and reduce stigma among providers and professionals is essential to reduce overdose risk for women with OUD. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Sociopsychological factors of drug abuse among young females in Bangladesh and gender-specific vulnerabilities: Aligning with SDG 3 and SDG 5.

Drug consumption among young women in Bangladesh is increasing day by day. The research aims to analyze the factors influencing young females to take drugs in Bangladesh. This exploratory study was carried out using a qualitative research method. Primary data were collected via in-depth interviews. Seventeen addicted young women from Bangladesh were chosen for this study by a snowball sampling technique. The data from the interviews were thoroughly examined. Intimate relationships with family and friends have the greatest impact on women's drug use. Aligning with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 and SDG target 3.5, the study underscores the critical need for gender-sensitive approaches to address the unique vulnerabilities faced by young women. The findings revealed several factors that significantly impacted drug consumption among young women in Bangladesh, including the influence of social groups and peers, family-related issues, inadequate awareness and education on drugs, the ready availability of drugs, and psychological factors such as stress and curiosity. Additionally, women who use drugs often face severe social stigma and gender-based violence, which deters them from seeking help and exacerbates their addiction. Limited access to health services due to economic and societal constraints further hinders their ability to receive proper care and support. Implementing strategies that address these gender-specific factors will not only help mitigate drug abuse but also contribute to improved public health outcomes and advance sustainable development.

The moderating roles of emotion regulation and coping self-efficacy on the association between PTSD symptom severity and drug use among female sexual assault survivors.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use disorders are a significant comorbid concern among sexual assault survivors. Thus, underlying risk and protective factors are critical to investigate in understanding how to prevent this comorbidity. The current study assessed potential moderating effects of coping self-efficacy (CSE) and emotion dysregulation on the association between sexual assault-related PTSD symptom severity and drug use severity in a sample of college women. In this study, 518 female undergraduate students completed self-report measures of nonconsensual sexual experiences, PTSD symptoms, CSE, emotion dysregulation, and drug use severity. Of these participants, 287 women reported at least 1 incident of attempted or completed rape. We found evidence of a significant moderation effect, suggesting that high levels of CSE and low levels of emotion dysregulation reduce the likelihood of drug use issues for female sexual assault survivors. These findings suggest that assessment tools, interventions, and trauma-related policies should target CSE and emotion dysregulation in attenuating the risk of drug use for women with assault-related PTSD symptoms. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Greetings From the Editor of Clinical Thyroidology

Clinical ThyroidologyVol. 35, No. 4 Greetings from the EditorFree AccessGreetings From the Editor of Clinical ThyroidologyPublished Online:11 Apr 2023https://doi.org/10.1089/ct.2023;35.129-130AboutSectionsPDF/EPUB Permissions & CitationsPermissionsDownload CitationsTrack CitationsAdd to favorites Back To Publication ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditEmail Our editorial team is thrilled to share this month's issue of Clinical Thyroidology, which provides an in-depth look at recent studies spanning the topics of thyroid laboratory testing, thyroid disease and pregnancy, pediatric thyroidology, thyroid nodules, and thyroid cancer.The issue begins with a review by Drs. Sawan Vijay Rupani and Anupam Kotwal of a study on the use of age- and sex-specific thyroid function test ranges to more appropriately diagnose subclinical thyroid dysfunction. Moving to the topic of thyroid and pregnancy, Drs. Ricardo Villela and Ricardo Correa summarize a study examining the role of thyroid autoantibodies on thyroid function in women during preconception and gestation. Relatedly, Drs. Sofie Bliddal and Ulla Feldt-Rasmussen provide their perspective on a study reporting the challenges of antithyroid drug use in women with Graves’ disease during pregnancy. Our pediatric thyroidologist editorial board member, Dr. Gary Francis, wraps up this first group of papers with his summary on a study of macro-thyrotropin in the consideration of congenital hypothyroidism.Moving on to thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer, Drs. George Taylor and Lindsay Kuo discuss a study assessing the accuracy of the Bethesda cytopathologic reporting system in indeterminate thyroid lesions. On the provocative topic of cancer prevention, Dr. Joanna Klubo-Gwiezdzinska reviews a study that tackles this question by studying a healthy lifestyle. Drs. David Toro-Tobon and Omar El Kawkgi then discuss a Korean population-based epidemiologic study on the risk of secondary malignancies associated with radioactive iodine treatment for thyroid cancer. The topic of postoperative serum calcitonin levels as a predictor of medullary thyroid cancer behavior is discussed in a study reviewed by Dr. Christopher Rowe. For all patients with a diagnosis of thyroid cancer, the potential unexpected effects of initial treatment are important to consider. Dr. Jie Liu reviews a study that surveyed thyroid cancer patients to assess changes in quality-of-life measures associated with their treatment. Relatedly, Drs. Erivelto Volpi and Leonardo Rangel summarize a study reporting the risk of hypoparathyroidism and impacts on quality of life among thyroid cancer survivors. Finally, Drs. Eric Walser and Jesse Pasternak share their perspective on a study examining the role of same-day discharge with patients undergoing thyroid surgery.We remain active on our various social media channels, and I invite our readers to further engage with us there. In these channels, we recap the featured highlights from each month's issue and discuss other topics related to the latest clinical thyroid literature. All are welcome to join us at:Twitter:https://twitter.com/clinicalthyroid(@clinicalthyroid)Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/ThyroidAssociationLinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/american-thyroid-associationYoutube:https://www.youtube.com/user/thyroidorgI also thank the editorial board of Clinical Thyroidology for the Public [CTFP] (https://www.thyroid.org/patient-thyroid-information/ct-for-patients), as led by Dr. Alan Farwell, for their work in providing short summaries of our Clinical Thyroidology articles each month. These quicker reads are helpful to patients and to the general public who are interested in learning more about recently published studies in the clinical thyroid literature.We will continue to provide reviews, commentaries, editorials, and perspectives of the most relevant clinical thyroid studies from the published literature. Guidelines for submitting Letters to the Editor and select Guest Editorials that cover timely and innovative aspects of clinical thyroid disease management may be found at https://home.liebertpub.com/publications/clinical-thyroidologyand174/623/for-authors.Thank you again for your interest in Clinical Thyroidology. Please feel free to send me any questions or comments at clinicalthyroidology@thyroid.org.Warmest regards,Angela M. Leung, MD, MScEditor-in-Chief, Clinical ThyroidologyFiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 35Issue 4Apr 2023 Information© Copyright 2023, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.To cite this article:Greetings From the Editor of Clinical Thyroidology.Clinical Thyroidology.Apr 2023.129-130.http://doi.org/10.1089/ct.2023;35.129-130Published in Volume: 35 Issue 4: April 11, 2023PDF download

Living without Partnered Sex in Germany. Results From the First Representative, Population-based German Health and Sexuality Survey (GeSiD)

Broader insights into the life situations of sexually inactive adults in Germany are widely unexplored. Within the nationally-representative survey GeSiD (German Health and Sexuality Survey), undertaken 2018-2019, data of 4,758 participants with lifetime interpersonal sexual experience aged 18-75 years (men: n = 2234; women: n = 2524) were analyzed in regards to partnered sexual inactivity in the past 12 months (PSI; no genital-involving sexual contact with another person). Overall, advanced age, being single and impaired health conditions were associated with PSI. Data showed gender-specific associations with PSI, such as less alcohol, smoking and drug use in women. PSI was associated with lower general life satisfaction throughout different age groups.

Using Illicit Drugs to Lose Weight among Recovering Female Drug Users in China: An Exploratory Qualitative Study.

The population of female drug users has been growing in China, and these women have been found to care deeply about their weight. Against this backdrop, this study examines the relationship between Chinese women’s illicit drug use and their intentions to lose weight, keep fit, and maintain a slim body shape. The participants of this study were 29 women who all had experience with illicit drug use for weight control. These women were drawn from a female compulsory drug treatment center located in eastern China. Semi-structured interviews with these 29 participants were conducted between 2013 and 2016. Expectations of losing weight and pursuing their ideal slim body shape were found to be an important reason for the study participants’ initiation of drug use, its maintenance, and failures to achieve abstinence. These Chinese female drug users were generally satisfied with weight loss outcomes subsequent to drug consumption. A fuller appreciation of Chinese women’s weight-loss-related illicit drug use patterns is much needed to help devise strategies and policies to deal with this growing problem. These include changing the dominant aesthetic cultural preference for thinness, paying particular attention to the functional use of illicit drugs in drug treatment programs, and having special interventions for women who interact with drug users within their social networks.

Opioid misuse in pregnancy

Key content The UK has one of the highest rates of opioid misuse in Europe, with dramatic escalation over the last decade. Much of this drug use in women coincides with childbearing age and continues into pregnancy. Opioid misuse in pregnancy is associated with considerable obstetric and neonatal complications. Management of women with opioid misuse in pregnancy requires a multidisciplinary approach with specialist input from drug services. Opioid substitution regimes with methadone or buprenorphine during pregnancy have been shown to improve perinatal outcomes and the woman’s compliance with care. Learning objectives To be familiar with the obstetric and neonatal complications that can arise from opioid misuse in pregnancy; in particular, neonatal abstinence syndrome. To appreciate the wider needs of women who misuse opioid medication and how we can support them during the antenatal, intrapartum and postpartum periods. To understand how opioid substitution regimes with methadone or buprenorphine can lead to an improvement in pregnancy and infant outcomes. Ethical issues While opioid substitution regimes reduce illicit drug use, improve compliance with obstetric care and improve neonatal birthweight, women should be counselled that they do not eliminate the risk of neonatal abstinence syndrome. Should we be commencing opioid‐dependent women on long‐term contraception prior to discharge to avoid potential future unplanned pregnancies? What safeguarding issues need to be addressed for the pregnant mother, unborn child and other existing children?

Delay Discounting of Cocaine‐Food Choice in Socially Housed Female and Male Cynomolgus Macaques

At present, there are no FDA-approved pharmacological treatments for cocaine use disorders (CUD). Because there is evidence of sex differences in vulnerability to cocaine abuse (O’Brien and Anthony, 2005) and treatment outcomes (Sugarman et al., 2017), research needs to include both sexes in evaluating treatment strategies. Weafer and de Wit (2014) have suggested that impulsivity is a stronger predictor of drug abuse in females compared to males and lack of inhibitory control may be a mechanism mediating the faster progression of drug use in women compared to men. The overarching goal of the present research is to utilize a “personalized medicine” approach to evaluating the role of environmental and pharmacological interventions on the reinforcing effects of cocaine. In this study, socially housed female (N=5) and male (N=6) cynomolgus monkeys, each implanted with an indwelling intravenous catheter and self-administering cocaine (0.01-0.1 mg/kg/injection) under a concurrent schedule with food (1.0-g banana-flavored pellets) as the alternative, served as subjects. Under these conditions, the frequency of cocaine choice increases in a dose-dependent manner, from <20% choice when 0.01 mg/kg/injection cocaine was available as an alternative to food, to >80% choice when 0.1 mg/kg/injection was the alternative to food; in this preliminary study, no sex or social rank differences were noted. Next, environmental manipulations were studied at both ends of the cocaine dose-response curve in order to assess whether there were sex differences in sensitivity to the reinforcing effects of cocaine. To study impulsivity, we used a delay discounting procedure similar to that described by Woolverton and colleagues (Huskinson et al., 2015, 2016). Differences in sensitivity to changes in cocaine preference when the preferred cocaine dose was available would provide information as to potential sex differences in the reinforcing strength of cocaine. In contrast, when low, non-preferred, cocaine doses were studied and food reinforcement was delayed, sex differences would provide information related to sensitivity of adverse environmental changes on vulnerability to cocaine abuse. In preliminary findings, when delays were imposed on high-dose cocaine, the indifference points (IP; 50% choice between cocaine and food) were not different between males and females (168.88 ± 75.6 seconds vs. 154.94 ± 39.1 seconds, respectively). However, when low-dose cocaine was available and food reinforcement was delayed, males were more sensitive to changes in the environment, as represented by lower IP values (46.74 ± 16.8 seconds vs. 114.39 ± 44.9 seconds, respectively). Studies are currently underway to determine if pharmacological manipulations, with and without delays, would provide additional reductions in cocaine choice, at both ends of the cocaine dose-response curve. An interesting behavioral pharmacology study would involve examine drug effects under conditions in which delayed high-dose cocaine and food-delayed low-dose cocaine produce similar behaviors (i.e., % cocaine choice).

Impact of hysterectomy on analgesic, psychoactive and neuroactive drug use in women with endometriosis: nationwide cohort study.

ObjectiveTo evaluate how hysterectomy affects the prescription of analgesic, psychotropic and neuroactive drugs in women with endometriosis using population‐based nationwide registers.DesignNationwide cohort study.SettingSwedish national registers, from 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2018.PopulationWomen with benign disease undergoing a total hysterectomy during the 4‐year period of 2012–2015. Women with endometriosis (n = 1074) were identified and compared with women who did not have endometriosis (n = 10 890).MethodsProspectively collected data from two population‐based registers were linked: the Swedish National Quality Register of Gynaecological Surgery and the Swedish National Drug Register. Multivariate logistic regression was used as the main statistical method.Main outcome measuresChanges in drug prescription over time for 3 years prior to and 3 years after hysterectomy.ResultsThe frequency of prescription of analgesics was higher in women with endometriosis compared with women without endometriosis (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.7–2.9). Among women with endometriosis, the prescription of analgesics (OR 1.0, 95% CI 0.8–1.2) did not decrease 3 years after hysterectomy compared with the 3 years prior to surgery. There was also a significantly higher rate of prescription of psychoactive (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.4–2.0) and neuroactive drugs (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.3–2.7) in the long term postoperatively.ConclusionsIn women undergoing hysterectomy, endometriosis was associated with a higher prescription rate of analgesics. In the endometriosis group the prescription of analgesic, psychoactive and neuroactive drugs did not decrease when comparing prescription rates for the 3 years prior to and the 3 years after surgery.Tweetable abstractIn women with endometriosis, the long‐term prescription of analgesics did not decrease after hysterectomy.

Validation of simple dichotomous self-report on prenatal alcohol and other drug use in women attending midwife obstetric units in the Cape Metropole, South Africa

Background This paper examines the degree of agreement among simple dichotomous self-report, validated screening results, and biochemical screening results of prenatal alcohol and other drug use among pregnant women. Method Secondary analysis was conducted on a cohort of pregnant women 16 years or older, presenting for prenatal care in the greater Cape Town, South Africa. Dichotomous verbal screening is a standard of care, and pregnant patients reporting alcohol and other drug use in dichotomous verbal screenings were asked to engage in screening using the Alcohol Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) and urinalysis. Results Significant agreements between dichotomous and ASSIST scores were observed (K = 0.73–0.76). A higher rate of self-reported (36.9%) alcohol use was detected, relative to urine screening (19.6%) with a predictive value of 34.9; while underreporting of illicit substance use was observed (3.6% self-report vs. 8.8% urine screening) with an overall predictive value of 50.0. Conclusion Dichotomous verbal screening was considered valid after comparison with the ASSIST; however, combined use with urine screenings can be recommended especially for identifying illicit substance use in order to accurately detect alcohol and other drug use in pregnancy, so that women can be identified and referred for appropriate interventions where needed.

Popular Music in the Nostalgia Video Game: The Way It Never Sounded, by Andra Ivănescu

<i>Popular Music in the Nostalgia Video Game: The Way It Never Sounded</i>, by Andra Ivănescu

(Re)shaping the self: An ethnographic study of the embodied and spatial practices of women who use drugs.

While gendered experiences of drug use have been well-established, understanding how women resist structures that constrain their agency is important for mitigating drug-related harms, especially as overdose has become North America's leading cause of accidental death. Drawing on the intersectional risk environments of WWUD, this ethnographic study examined how gendered expectations of women's drug use, appearance, and comportment influenced vulnerability to overdose within the context of a fentanyl-driven overdose crisis. This community-engaged ethnography, conducted in Vancouver, Canada from May 2017 to December 2018, included in-depth interviews with 35 marginally-housed WWUD (transgender-inclusive) and approximately 100h of fieldwork in single room accommodation (SRA) housing and an established street-based drug scene. Data were analyzed thematically with attention to embodiment, agency, and intersectionality. Findings highlight how gendered expectations and normative violence impacted women's use of space, both in the drug scene and SRAs. To resist efforts to 'discipline' their bodies, participants engaged in situated gender performances. Physical appearance was also deemed critical to managing drug use disclosure. Participants adopted gendered embodied practices, including altered consumption methods or injecting in less visible areas, to conceal their use from peers and at times, their partners. To resist harms associated with involuntary disclosure, participants often used alone in SRAs or in public spaces. While such practices allowed women to exert agency within constraining systems, they concurrently heightened overdose risk. Findings demonstrate how women engaged in everyday acts of resistance through embodied drug use practices, which increased their agency but elevated overdose risk. Implementing gender-specific programs that increase bodily agency and control (e.g. low-threshold services for personal care, women-focused harm reduction support) are needed to reduce risk of overdose for WWUD.

Partner Incarceration and Women's Substance Use

AbstractObjectiveThis study examines whether the incarceration of women's partners is associated with their own drug, alcohol, and cigarette use.BackgroundPartners of incarcerated men face a number of stressors, including deteriorating relationships and economic instability. These stressors may lead women to engage in coping strategies that can negatively impact health.MethodsData come from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (N = 3,733), a cohort study of mostly low‐income mothers in 20 large U.S. cities. Using lagged dependent variable models and propensity score matching, the authors estimate women's alcohol, drug, and cigarette use as a function of partner incarceration. The authors also examine mediators (relationship instability, economic instability, and diminished mental health) and moderators (race/ethnicity, residential status) of these associations.ResultsPartner incarceration was significantly associated with drug use only, and this association was concentrated among Black women. There was no evidence that this association operated through the studied mediators.ConclusionThe findings suggest that the social contexts in which Black women live can make those who experience partner incarceration particularly vulnerable to drug use. Although the findings leave questions regarding the pathways through which partner incarceration is linked to drug use, they suggest that incarceration compounds the disadvantages Black women already face in a social system that stratifies access to social goods based on skin color and ethnic origin, which may contribute to health disparities more broadly.

Intersecting Epidemics: Incident Syphilis and Drug Use in Women Living With Human Immunodeficiency Virus in the United States (2005-2016).

Rates of early syphilis in US women are steadily increasing, but predictors of infection in this group are not clearly defined. This retrospective analysis focused on women enrolled in the US CFAR Network of Integrated Clinical Systems cohort between January 2005 and December 2016 with syphilis testing performed. The primary outcome of incident syphilis infection was defined serologically as a newly positive test with positive confirmatory testing after a negative test or a 2-dilution increase in rapid plasma regain titer. Infection rates were calculated for each woman-year in care with testing. Predictors of syphilis were sought among sociodemographics, clinical information, and self-reported behaviors. Multivariable logistic regression models were created; a subgroup analysis assessed predictors in women of reproductive age. The annual rate of incident syphilis among 4416 women engaged in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) care and tested during the 12-year study period was 760/100 000 person-years. Independent predictors of infection were injection drug use as a risk factor for HIV acquisition (aOR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.3-3.9), hepatitis C infection (aOR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.1-3.4), black race (aOR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.3-3.7 compared with white race), and more recent entry to care (since 2005 compared with 1994-2004). Predictors were similar in women aged 18-49. Syphilis infection is common among US women in HIV care. Syphilis screening and prevention efforts should focus on women reporting drug use and with hepatitis C coinfection. Future studies should identify specific behaviors that mediate syphilis acquisition risk in women who use drugs.

Parental Rejection, Resilience, and Health-risk Behavior in Emerging Adults.

Objectives: In this study, we investigated the sex differences in the impact of perceived parental rejection on various health-risk behaviors and the moderation of resilience on the relations between perceived parental rejection and health-risk behaviors. Methods: Cross-sectional data of 730 college-attending emerging adults were analyzed with Poisson and negative binomial models. Results: Maternal rejection predicted drug use and aggressive behavior for men and binge drinking, drug use, and aggressive behavior for women; paternal rejection predicted drug use for women. Resilience buffered the negative association of maternal rejection to drug use and the relation of paternal rejection to aggressive behavior in men. Resilience enhanced the association between maternal rejection and drug use but buffered the association between paternal rejection and drug use in women. Conclusions: Parental rejection was associated with health-risk behavior, whereas resilience may attenuate such a relationship. Prevention and intervention programs should consider sex-specific needs.

Relationships between substance abuse/dependence and psychiatric disorders based on polygenic scores.

Genetic susceptibility to substance use disorders (SUDs) is partially shared between substances. Heritability of any substance dependence, estimated as 54%, is partly explained by additive effects of common variants. Comorbidity between SUDs and other psychiatric disorders is frequent. The present study aims to analyze the additive role of common variants in this comorbidity using polygenic scores (PGSs) based on genome-wide association study discovery samples of schizophrenia (SCZ), bipolar disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, major depressive disorder and anxiety disorders, available from large consortia. PGSs were calculated for 534 patients meeting DSM-IV criteria for dependence of a substance and abuse/dependence of another substance between alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, cocaine, opiates, hypnotics, stimulants, hallucinogens and solvents; and 587 blood donors from the same population, Iberians from Galicia, as controls. Significance of the PGS and percentage of variance explained were calculated by logistic regression. Using discovery samples of similar size, significant associations with SUDs were detected for SCZ PGS. SCZ PGS explained more variance in SUDs than in most psychiatric disorders. Cross-disorder PGS based on five psychiatric disorders was significant after adjustment for the effect of SCZ PGS. SCZ PGS was significantly higher in women than in men abusing alcohol. Our findings indicate that SUDs share genetic susceptibility with SCZ to a greater extent than with other psychiatric disorders, including externalizing disorders such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Women have lower probability to develop substance abuse/dependence than men at similar PGS probably because of a higher social pressure against excessive drug use in women.

Cigarette Smoking Status and Substance Use in Pregnancy.

Objectives Substance use during pregnancy is a significant public health issue. Prenatal substance use increased in the past decade while prenatal cigarette smoking has remained stable. Co-use of tobacco and other drugs is a concern because of potential additive risks. This study aims to describe the prevalence rates of substance use among pregnant women and examine the association between smoking status (nonsmoker, recent quitter and current smoker) and other drug use. Methods In this cross-sectional study, pregnant women (n = 500) were recruited from two obstetric practices to complete three substance use screeners and have their urine tested for 12 different drug classes, including cannabis, opioids and cocaine. Participants were divided into three groups based on survey responses: nonsmokers, recent quitters (smoked in the month prior to pregnancy but not past month) and current smokers (past-month). Results Approximately 29% of participants reported smoking in the month before pregnancy. During pregnancy, 17, 12 and 71% were current smokers, recent quitters and nonsmokers respectively. Overall prevalence of illicit or prescription drug use in pregnancy was 27%. Cannabis was the most common drug used in pregnancy with prevalence of 22%, followed by opioids (4%), cocaine (1%), tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) (1%), amphetamines (1%), and benzodiazepines (1%). On multivariable logistic regression, smoking in pregnancy was associated with a positive urine drug screen; with adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 4.7 (95% CI 2.6-8.3) for current smokers and 1.6 (95% CI 0.8-3.3) for recent quitters. Factors negatively associated with positive drug screen were second and third trimester pregnancies, 0.5 (0.3-0.9) and 0.3 (0.2-0.6) respectively; and employment, 0.5 (0.3-0.8). Conclusions for Practice Co-use of tobacco and illicit drugs, particularly cannabis, is relatively high during pregnancy. Additional research is needed to understand the health implications of co-use versus use of tobacco only. Given the strong association between smoking and other drug use, clinicians should routinely assess for illicit drug use in women who smoke during pregnancy.

Study on the Effect of Educational Intervention based on Health Belief Model to Prevent the Arbitrary Use of Drugs in Women Referring to Health Centers of Bandar Abbas

Study on the Effect of Educational Intervention based on Health Belief Model to Prevent the Arbitrary Use of Drugs in Women Referring to Health Centers of Bandar Abbas

Transgender Women's Drug Use in the Dominican Republic.

Purpose: Studies on drug use in transgender populations, particularly those in resource-limited settings, are scarce. Considering that drug use can be a coping mechanism to deal with stigma and traumatic experiences, we examined associations between stigma, trauma, and drug use in a national sample of transgender women from the Dominican Republic.Methods: Bivariate analyses examined differences between drug users and abstainers (n=287). Multivariate analyses reported odds ratios (OR) with general drug, marijuana, and cocaine use as outcomes (n=243).Results: A quarter of respondents (24.5%) experienced sexual abuse, 12.1% were tortured, and 20.1% experienced a murder attempt. More than a quarter reported using illegal drugs (26.1%). Drug users had lower socioeconomic status; 30.0% of drug users had a primary level of education or less (18.2% of abstainers) and 17.6% of drug users had higher income, defined as greater than 10,001 pesos (∼$210 United States Dollars, USD) per month (28.1% of abstainers). More than half of drug users experienced some form of trauma (51.4%) compared to 43.5% of abstainers, and 28.4% of drug users, compared to 17.1% of abstainers, experienced a murder attempt on her life. Independent sample t-tests found significant differences between drug users and abstainers. Transgender women who experienced sexual abuse had three times high odds of using cocaine. Drug users were more likely to have experienced sexual abuse and attempted suicide (p<0.05 for both). Respondents who attempted suicide had higher odds of using drugs generally and using marijuana specifically, compared to respondents who had not attempted suicide (OR=2.665 and 3.168, respectively). Higher scores on the stigma scale were associated with higher odds of any drug use and cocaine use (OR=1.132 and 1.325, respectively).Conclusions: Although some nations have implemented antidiscrimination policies protecting transgender citizens, these policies are not consistently enforced. Eliminating stigma and stigmatizing policies may reduce rates of drug use as a coping mechanism.