Prescription Drugs and Abuse in Women:

1. Prescription Drugs and Abuse in Women: A Community Perspective

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. Prescription Drugs and Abuse in Women: A Community Perspective • One person dies every 19 minutes from prescription drug abuse in the United States.

12. Prescription Drugs and Abuse in Women: A Community Perspective • Vicodin • Oxycontin • Lortab • Percocet • Norco • Suboxone • Non-Prescription Methadone • Subutex

13. Prescription Drugs and Abuse in Women: A community Perspective • Roxicodine • Darvocet • Dilaudid • Poppy Tea • Tussionex • Demerol • Fentanyl

14. Why do some Women Abuse Opiates • 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.

15. Why do some Women Abuse Opiates • Prescribed by physician • “ Opiates gives me energy”

16. 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

17. 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.

18. 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.

19. 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.

20. 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.

21. Barriers that Hinders Women from accessing treatment • Unresolved family of origin issues. • Unresolved abuse (sexual) issues.

22. 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.

23. 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)

24. 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

25. Special Recognition • Kristen Bachmann • Kimberly Doss • Fancy Cupps