CH.18 - Gender and Substance Use Disorders

Question 1

What are some social barriers for women to enter rehab?

Answer 1

In past, women who abused drugs were subjected to greater social condemnation than men. Women with SUDs were viewed as less important than that of men. Less than half of rehab units provide gender-specific treatment for women. All available research about addictions focus on males, which was then applied to the women as well.

Question 2

What is the relationship between employment status and substance abuse in women?

Answer 2

• Women who are less satisfied with their work status tend to abuse alcohol more often than satisfied women.
• Working women with SUDs are less likely to be married than are their counterparts
• Women with SUD are solitary users and less likely to come to the attention of authorities with behavioral problems than are men.

Question 3

Is AA (alcoholics anonymous) a good option for women opposed to men?

Answer 3

Women with SUDs often report a history of victimization. AA or other 12 step programs place great emphasis on surrender and submission….women with victimization issues find this approach difficult, if not impossible to accept.

Question 4

Do advertisers target women for alcohol and nicotine products?

Answer 4

YES!
-Advertising companies now view women as untapped market for alcohol and nicotine consumption. Gender specific marketing approaches.

Question 5

By whom are women introduced into drug abuse?

Answer 5

Their partners

Question 6

What is the risk factor for entry into substance abuse for women 40-50 years of age?

Answer 6

Being married

Question 7

What is the unrecognized source of drugs of abuse for women?

Answer 7

physicians

Question 8

What are the negative effects of alcohol on women compared to men?

Answer 8

• Women require 40% less alcohol than men to achieve the same blood alcohol level
• Women tend to experience alcohol-related physical complications at an earlier point in life than do men who drink abusively
• Women develop alcohol-related health problems at about 1/3 the alcohol intake level seen in men who develop similar health problems
• Typical alcoholic woman will develop cirrhosis of the liver after about half the time of addictive drinking compared to the typical male alcoholic, and cirrhosis is often fatal in the female.

Question 9

What is the impact of hormone based birth control on alcohol use?

Answer 9

Women taking birth control pills have a lower rate of alcohol biotransformation than women who do not use this method of conception, extending the effects of their alcohol consumption.