Opioid Use Disorders: The Female Experience

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The number of women affected by opioid use disorder is rapidly increasing. Many estimate that women are more likely to abuse prescription opioids than men, and the percentage of women who abuse heroin has increased by 100% from 2002 – 2013. Important biopsychosocial gender differences exist which are important for risk factors for developing the disease, trajectory of the disease, and treatment planning, retention, and continued recovery. After completing this module, participants will be able to identify the changing demographics of heroin and opioid use disorders, discuss gender-related treatment issues including specific barriers to treatment for women and the impact of co-occurring disorders, and identify specific treatment concerns when treating pregnant women addicted to opioids.

http://pcss-o.org/2016/05/06/opioid-use-disorders-the-female-experience/

Related Topics

  • Behavioral Health
  • Medications for Addiction Treatment (MAT)
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