Gender Considerations in Addiction: Implications for Treatment

Family history of substance problems among African Americans: Associations with drug use, drug use disorder, and prescription drug misuse

A family history of substance problems is a well-known risk factor for substance use and use disorders; however, much of this research has been conducted in studies with predominantly White subjects. The aim of this study was to examine the associations between family history density of substance problems and drug use, risk for drug use disorder, and prescription drug misuse in a sample of African American adults. Results indicate that family history density of substance problems increased the risk for all drug outcomes in the full sample. However, when subgroup analyses by gender were conducted, family history was not a risk factor among men for prescription drug misuse.

Association between psychosis and substance use in Kenya. Findings from the NeuroGAP-Psychosis study

Background

Substance use is prevalent among people with mental health issues, and patients with psychosis are more likely to use and misuse substances than the general population. Despite extensive research on substance abuse among the general public in Kenya, there is a scarcity of data comparing substance use among people with and without psychosis. This study investigates the association between psychosis and various substances in Kenya.

Methods

This study utilized data from the Neuro-GAP Psychosis Case-Control Study between April 2018 and December 2022. The KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme recruited participants from various sites in Kenya, including Kilifi County, Malindi Sub-County, Port Reitz and Coast General Provincial Hospitals, and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, as well as affiliated sites in Webuye, Kapenguria, Kitale, Kapsabet, and Iten Kakamega. The collected data included sociodemographic information, substance use, and clinical diagnosis. We used the summary measures of frequency (percentages) and median (interquartile range) to describe the categorical and continuous data, respectively. We examined the association between categorical variables related to psychosis using the chi-square test. Logistic regression models were used to assess the factors associated with the odds of substance use, considering all relevant sociodemographic variables.

Results

We assessed a total of 4,415 cases and 3,940 controls. Except for alcohol consumption (p-value=0.41), all forms of substance use showed statistically significant differences between the case and control groups. Cases had 16% higher odds of using any substance than controls (aOR: 1.16, 95%CI: 1.05-1.28, p=0.005). Moreover, males were 3.95 times more likely to use any substance than females (aOR:3.95; 95%CI: 3.43-4.56). All the categories of living arrangements were protective against substance use.

Conclusion

The findings of this study suggest that psychotic illnesses are associated with an increased likelihood of using various substances. These findings are consistent with those of previous studies; however, it is crucial to investigate further the potential for reverse causality between psychosis and substance abuse using genetically informed methods.

Baseline Characteristics and Postdischarge Outcomes by Medication for Opioid Use Disorder Status Among Women with Polysubstance Use in Residential Treatment

Background

Within residential treatment, medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) is rarely offered, so little is known about group differences by MOUD status. This study characterizes samples of women receiving and not receiving MOUD and explores postdischarge outcomes.

Methods

This is a secondary exploratory analysis of a residential clinical trial comparing women receiving treatment as usual (TAU) with those who also received computer-based training for cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT4CBT). Participants were N = 41 adult women with substance use disorder (SUD) who self-reported lifetime polysubstance use. Because 59.0% were prescribed MOUD (MOUD n = 24, no MOUD n = 17), baseline variables were compared by MOUD status; outcomes at 12 weeks postdischarge were compared by MOUD status and treatment condition using chi square and Mann-Whitney U tests.

Results

Participants were middle-aged (41.7 ± 11.6 years) and non-Latinx Black (80.4%). Most used substances in the No MOUD group were alcohol, cocaine, and cannabis, and in the MOUD group, most used substances were opioids, cannabis, and cocaine. Women in the MOUD group tended to have more severe SUD. Postdischarge substance use recurrence rates were twice as high in the MOUD group than in the No MOUD group. Among the women in the No MOUD group, those in the CBT4CBT condition increased the number of coping strategies twice as much as those receiving TAU.

Conclusion

Postdischarge substance use recurrence differed by MOUD status. CBT4CBT may be a helpful adjunct to personalized residential SUD treatment. The parent study is registered at [www.clinicaltrials.gov (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03678051)].

Substance Use Disorders in Women

Substance use disorder (SUD) is among the leading causes of premature morbidity and mortality and imposes significant health, economic, and social burdens. Gender differences have been found in the development, course, and treatment of SUD, with women at increased risk for physiologic and psychosocial consequences compared with men. Reasons for these differences are multifold and include biological, genetic, environmental, and behavioral factors. This article discusses SUD among women, emphasizing clinical considerations for care. Specific topics include epidemiology, sex and gender differences, common comorbidities, screening, diagnosis, treatment, pregnancy, and sociocultural factors.

Women's experiences in injectable opioid agonist treatment programs in Vancouver, Canada

BACKGROUND

Injectable opioid agonist treatment (iOAT) has recently been expanded in some geographical contexts in Canada as part of a response to the escalating overdose crisis. Complex gendered dynamics, including power differentials, violence, and social norms, shape the overdose crisis and drug treatment programs which can adversely impact women's experiences. This qualitative study examines how social (e.g., gender, income, housing) and structural factors (e.g., program policies) impact women's experiences of iOAT.

METHODS

Qualitative interviews were completed with 16 women enrolled in four iOAT programs in Vancouver, Canada. Approximately 50 hours of ethnographic observations were conducted. Interview transcripts and ethnographic fieldnotes were analyzed using a critical feminist lens by applying the concepts of embodiment, relationality, and social control to understand women's engagement and self-reported treatment outcomes.

RESULTS

Initial iOAT engagement was a relational process, including initiating treatment with a partner and engaging with iOAT to (re)build personal relationships. Relationships with iOAT providers, including flexibility and support with medication administration, were important to women, providing an affirming embodied experience and a greater sense of agency. However, program operations (e.g., mandated daily attendance, program crowding) incompatible with women's needs (e.g., employment) could undermine these positive experiences. Women's reported outcomes highlight a tension between achieving more agency and the constraints of intensive and stigmatized treatment.

CONCLUSION

This study highlights how iOAT is both a source of care and control for women from a relational and embodied perspective. Findings underscore the need for gender-attentive and flexible drug treatment services to meet the varied needs of women and the importance of providing relational care for women accessing iOAT.

Predictors of substance use disorder symptoms among women in Katsina State, Nigeria

BACKGROUND

Problems associated with substance use are on the rise among women in northern Nigeria, creating a need to understand factors contributing to this trend.

METHOD

Data on substance use, symptoms of substance use disorder (SUD) using DSM-5 criteria, and risk and protective factors associated with SUD symptoms, including adverse childhood experiences (ACE), were collected in a community-based study of young adult women (M age = 25.76, SD = 4.71 years) from Katsina State.

RESULTS

The analytic sample included 360 women with valid SUD symptom data. SUD symptoms were correlated in expected directions with the majority of risk and protective factors, including ACE. A hierarchical linear regression analysis predicting SUD symptoms revealed that age, ACE, and peer drug use were uniquely associated with higher levels of SUD symptoms; more education and endorsing a positive relationship with parents was associated with fewer SUD symptoms. Notably, ACE remained a unique contributor to SUD symptom totals in the context of protective factors and additional risk factors, although the association of ACE and SUD symptoms was attenuated.

CONCLUSIONS

These data illustrate the enduring impact of ACE on risk for SUD symptoms in women, and the protective role that a positive relationship with parents may play in reducing this risk. Further, these patterns of findings reveal the utility of assessing risk and protective factors across multiple life domains to gain a comprehensive picture of risk for SUD symptoms in women.

Qualitative description of outreach and engagement in perinatal substance treatment in Finland

BACKGROUND

Women with perinatal substance problems experience a multitude of barriers to care. They have specific early intervention needs, they endure societal stigma, and both substances and mental health issues influence the way they navigate within support and treatment systems. Early interventions for women with perinatal substance problems are underresearched contexts. The aim of the study is to describe building relationships and engagement within an outreach and low threshold service encounter tailored for pregnant women with SUD (substance use disorder).

METHODS

The data consist of online written narratives from 11 workers involved in the program and feedback from 504 families in the recovery process comprising 228 open-ended answers. The data were analyzed with a thematic analysis.

RESULTS

The programs are characterized by flexibility and the implementation of inclusive ways to approach families. The themes for enhancing relationships and engagement within outreach and low threshold programs are Acceptance and attitude: a sensitive approach of approval; flexibility within strictness to allow for diversity and individuality; availability and space to ensure a trustful atmosphere; negotiating via doing to build connections; and everyday life changes: imagining recovery. The themes represent the need of being available, focusing on the worker's attitudes and building connections by doing together, and visioning recovery together.

CONCLUSIONS

The study results can add to the understanding of SUD outreach and low threshold work during pregnancy. The elements described in this study need further theoretical development, research and critical assessment. Building relationships during pregnancy were characterized by connecting within everyday life situations and supporting the development of an attachment relationship between the baby and the parents. To promote recovery, a comprehensive approach in which substance-related issues and mental health conditions are interconnected can be favored. Engaging early on during pregnancy might enhance success during future rehabilitation.

A systematic review of gender-responsive and integrated substance use disorder treatment programs for women with co-occurring disorders

Background: Integrated and gender-responsive interventions, designed to target co-occurring substance use and psychiatric disorders in women, may be effective in addressing gender-specific challenges.Objectives: This systematic review aims to identify integrated gender-responsive substance use disorder treatments for women, summarize evaluations of these treatments, and address gaps in the literature.Methods: We searched PsycINFO, PubMed, and MEDLINE on September 24, 2021, and March 10, 2022. Included articles were randomized-controlled trials, secondary analyses of naturalistic studies, or open-label studies of integrated and gender-responsive treatments from any year that assessed both substance use and mental health/trauma outcomes.Results: We identified N = 24 studies (participants = 3,396; 100% women) examining Seeking Safety, Helping Women Recover and Beyond Trauma, A Woman's Path to Recovery, Modified Trauma Recovery and Empowerment Model (TREM), Breaking the Cycle, VOICES, Understanding and Overcoming Substance Misuse, Women's Recovery Group, Female Specific Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Moment by Moment in Women's Recovery. Across treatments there were significant improvements over time; Seeking Safety, Helping Women Recover, and TREM were associated with significantly better substance use and mental health outcomes relative to the comparison groups.Conclusions: Integrated gender-responsive treatments are a promising approach to treating women with co-occurring substance use and mental health concerns, and broad clinical implementation stands to benefit women. However, there remains a lack of studies evaluating substance use treatments in women with severe mental illness (e.g., psychotic-spectrum disorders) who differ in their needs and capacity.

Longitudinal co-trajectories of depression and alcohol problems in adults during the COVID-19 pandemic

We examined person-centered heterogeneity in the longitudinal co-development of depression and alcohol problems during the COVID-19 outbreak. We also investigated the risk factors (personality and coping) for being in "higher" relative to "lower" risk subgroups of combined depressive symptoms and alcohol problems. Canadian participants (N = 364, M age = 32.16, 54.67% male) completed questionnaires four times every three months, starting approximately 2 months after Canada announced its COVID-19 State-of-Emergency. Parallel-process latent class growth analysis found evidence for three latent subgroups: a "moderate increasing depression and alcohol problems" subgroup (Class 1); a "moderate stable depression, moderate decreasing alcohol problems" subgroup (Class 2); and a "low-risk normative" subgroup (with mild depression that was stable and mild alcohol problems that decreased; Class 3). Multinomial logistic regressions found that higher levels of hopelessness, impulsivity, and boredom proneness distinguished Class 1 from Class 3. Further, lower levels of general self-efficacy distinguished Class 1 from Classes 2 and 3. Linear mixed models found that Class 1 increasingly used maladaptive avoidant coping strategies (denial, drugs/alcohol, behavioural disengagement) as the pandemic progressed, whereas Class 2 increasingly used adaptive approach-oriented strategies (planning, seeking emotional support from others). We analyzed longitudinal data to detect classes of individuals with depressive and alcohol-related difficulties during COVID-19 and to characterize the vulnerability factors for increased difficulties. Highlighting the heterogeneity in the co-trajectory of depression and alcohol problems during COVID-19 and the personality and coping factors associated with combined increases in these mental health difficulties can inform treatment practices and bolster peoples' preparedness and resilience for future pandemics.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12144-022-04109-4.

Patterns and Correlates of Polysubstance Use Among Individuals With Severe Alcohol Use Disorder

AIM

The present study examined patterns and correlates of polysubstance use among individuals with severe alcohol use disorder (AUD).

METHODS

Participants were 2785 individuals (63% female; mean age = 43 years, range = 18-78 years) from the Genes, Addiction and Personality Study. All participants met lifetime criteria for severe AUD (6+ symptoms). We used latent class analysis to identify patterns of frequency of lifetime use for cigarettes, marijuana, cocaine, stimulants, sedatives, opioids and hallucinogens. A variety of demographic and behavioral correlates of latent class membership were tested in univariable and multivariable models.

RESULTS

A five-class solution was selected: extended range polysubstance use (24.5%); cigarette and marijuana use (18.8%); 'testers,' characterized by high probabilities of smoking 100 or more cigarettes, using marijuana 6+ times, and trying the remaining substances 1-5 times (12.3%); moderate range polysubstance use (17.1%) and minimal use (reference class; 27.3%). In univariable analyses, all potential correlates were related to latent class membership. In the multivariable model, associations with gender, race/ethnicity, age of onset for alcohol problems, dimensions of impulsivity, depressive symptoms, antisocial behavior and family history density of alcohol problems remained significant, though the pattern and strength of associations differed across classes. For instance, sensation-seeking, lack of premeditation and family history were uniquely associated with membership in the extended range polysubstance use class.

CONCLUSION

Patterns of polysubstance use are differentially related to demographic and behavioral factors among individuals with severe AUD. Assessing use across multiple substances may inform the selection of targets for treatment and prevention.

Licit Substance Use and Premenstrual Syndrome Symptom Severity in Female College Students

INTRODUCTION

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) affects the majority of women and is characterized by physical, behavioral, and mood symptoms, which can have a profound impact on quality of life. PMS symptoms have also been linked to licit substance use. This study examined the relationships between daily/problem use (DPU) of caffeine (Caf⁺), alcohol (Alc⁺), and tobacco (Cig⁺) and PMS symptomology in a sample of college women.

METHODS

Participants (N = 196) completed an anonymous one-time health survey. Demographic, PMS symptomatology, and DPU of licit substance variables were examined. Independent t-tests compared PMS symptom scores in women with and without Caf⁺, Cig⁺, and Alc⁺ use. One-way analysis of variances examined the associations between PMS symptom severity and number of DPU-positive substances.

RESULTS

PMS subscale severity (pain [F(2,190) = 4.47, p = 0.013], affective [F(2,192) = 8.21, p < 0.001], and water retention [F(2,191) = 13.37, p < 0.001]) and total PMS symptom severity [F(2,189) = 10.22, p < 0.001] showed a dose response effect, with the number of licit substances with DPU significantly associated with PMS symptom severity.

CONCLUSIONS

This study findings provide important new information about the relationship between PMS symptoms and at-risk substance use. These are cross-sectional data, however, and affirm a need for longitudinal research to better understand the associations, with a focus on potential benefits of education and intervention.

Psychosocial Interventions for Alcohol and/or Drug Misuse and Use Disorders in Women: A Systematic Review

Background: Although men and women who misuse substances have different needs, no rigorous systematic literature review has been conducted examining psychosocial substance use interventions for women across a broad range of types of therapeutic approaches and populations. Materials and Methods: PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines were used to guide this review. English language, peer-reviewed research articles indexed in PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL Complete, and Web of Science through May 6, 2021, were searched. Peer-reviewed articles were included in the review if they were written in English; described a randomized controlled trial of a psychosocial intervention to reduce substance misuse and related problems in women; and reported quantitative data on alcohol or illicit drug use as an outcome that was linked to the interventions. Results: A total of 51 articles met eligibility criteria, reflecting a broad array of interventions with different levels of methodological rigor. Several, but not most, interventions were tailored to meet the needs of specific subgroups of women, but evidence regarding the efficacy of tailoring was inconclusive. Overall, 61% of studies reported one or more positive substance-related intervention effects, with target substance (alcohol only vs. other drugs only or both alcohol and other drugs) and intervention dosage associated with intervention success. Conclusions: Fewer studies targeting alcohol only reported one or more positive intervention outcomes. This warrants further study, given that polysubstance use is the norm, not the exception. Future research might also focus on reducing treatment barriers to women, as this has the potential to improve overall treatment outcomes for this population.

Improving Peripartum Care Engagement Among Black Women at Risk for Low Prenatal Care Attendance: A Secondary Analysis of Predictors of Attendance and Sample Representativeness

Background: The United States has unacceptably high rates of maternal and infant mortality, especially among Black women and their infants. Prenatal and postpartum care help reduce maternal and infant morbidity and mortality; however, Black women are less likely to access and utilize peripartum care largely due to structural racism. Identifying factors that buffer against the systemic barriers disproportionately impacting this community is an important step in addressing racial health disparities. Using existing data from a randomized controlled trial (RCT) targeting maternal and infant health disparities, this study aims to (1) explore predictors of peripartum care attendance and (2) examine clinical trial sample representativeness. Methods: The analyses addressing the primary aim of the study included Black women at risk for low prenatal care (PNC) engagement who consented to RCT participation and had a documented live birth (n = 123). For the secondary study aim, comparisons between women who consented to the RCT (Consenters; n = 149) and those who did not (Non-consenters; n = 122) were made using chi-square and t-tests. Results: Hierarchical linear and logistic regression identified predictors of prenatal and postpartum care attendance, respectively. After controlling for multiple comparisons, no significant differences were identified between characteristics of Consenters and Non-consenters. Older age (p = 0.038), high-risk pregnancy (p < 0.001), and no past week substance use (p = 0.033) predicted better PNC attendance. PNC attendance predicted postpartum visit attendance (p < 0.001). Conclusions: This study provides benchmark data on predictors of peripartum care and sample representativeness in RCTs. Findings have important implications for health care system changes and development of culturally informed interventions.

The role of context on responding to an alcohol-predictive cue in female and male rats

In male rats, physical contexts that are associated with alcohol can amplify the response to a discrete, alcohol-predictive conditioned stimulus (CS), and amplify prime-induced reinstatement. Here, we examined these effects as a function of biological sex. Male and female Long-Evans rats were acclimated to drinking ethanol (15% v/v) in their home cages. Next, they were trained to associate an auditory conditioned stimulus (CS) (10 s; white noise or clicker; 15 trials per session) with ethanol delivery (0.2 mL per CS; 3.0 mL per session) into a fluid port for oral intake. Training occurred in a distinctive context containing specific visual, olfactory, and tactile stimuli. During alternating sessions, rats were exposed to a second context wherein they did not receive ethanol. At test, CS trials occurred in both contexts without ethanol delivery. Rats then underwent extinction using repeated unreinforced presentations of the CS in both contexts. An alcohol-primed reinstatement test was then conducted, in which 0.2 mL of ethanol was presented at the start of the session and during the first CS trial, after which no ethanol was delivered for the remainder of the session. At both test and reinstatement, male rats made significantly more CS port-entries in the context associated with alcohol delivery than in the context in which alcohol was never experienced. Unlike males, female rats made a similar number of CS port-entries at the test in both the alcohol context and the neutral context. The reinstatement observed in female rats was also not affected by context. These findings suggest that the capacity of an alcohol-associated context to modulate responding to a discrete, alcohol-predictive cue is less pronounced in female than male rats.

Short communication: Relationship between social determinants and opioid use disorder treatment outcomes by gender

BACKGROUND

Social determinants of health (SDoH) influence health outcomes differentially across gender. Gender differences in SDoH have been identified at baseline in opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment studies, but less is known about how SDoH and gender intersect with OUD treatment trajectories. This study aims to identify social correlates of OUD treatment outcomes from five key areas of social determinants separately for men and women receiving buprenorphine for OUD.

METHODS

This is a secondary data analysis of a cross-sectional survey with medical record review conducted with patients recruited from an office based opioid treatment clinic. Participants completed surveys between July-September 2019. A 6-month prospective medical record review was conducted to determine treatment retention, substance use recurrence, and buprenorphine continuation. Chi square, T-tests, and Mann Whitney U tested differences in social factors and OUD outcomes by gender. Gender-stratified multivariable logistic and negative binomial regressions assessed predictors of OUD outcomes.

RESULTS

Among study participants (n = 142), women were significantly younger (p < 0.001), more likely to live in a safe neighborhood (p = 0.046), and less likely to be employed (p = 0.005) or have substance use recurrence during the study period (p = 0.033) than men. For women, employment (AOR=0.19, p = 0.031) and education (AOR=0.08, p = 0.040) were negatively associated with treatment retention. For men, no social factors were associated with OUD outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

SDoH may impact OUD treatment outcomes differently by gender. Addressing MOUD stigma and implementing patient-centered care strategies may facilitate OUD treatment continuation among employed women in recovery. Gender-related social factors should be considered in OUD treatment research.

The Predictive Value of Degree of Preference for Extended-Release Naltrexone for Treatment Adherence, Opioid Use, and Relapse

BACKGROUND

Extended-release naltrexone (XR-NTX) is effective for illicit opioid abstinence as an opioid maintenance treatment. To improve treatment outcomes, patient's preference for the modality of treatment is an important factor.

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to test the relationship between baseline preference for XR-NTX and adherence to treatment, use of illicit opioids, and risk of relapse.

METHODS

In an open-label, Norwegian clinical trial participants with opioid use disorder were randomized to either monthly injections with XR-NTX or daily sublingual buprenorphine-naloxone (BP-NLX) for 12 weeks. Subsequently, participants could continue with their preferred medication in a 36-week follow-up and in a prolonged period of 104 weeks.

RESULTS

Of 153 participants who completed detoxification, 72% were men, with a mean age of 36 years. Preference levels were similar across the randomized groups, with no significant associations between preference and adherence to treatment, opioid use, or relapse. The BP-NLX group had a significantly higher risk of first relapse to opioids than the XR-NTX group for all levels of preference (p < 0.001) and a significantly higher number of days of illicit opioid use. In the follow-up period, the adherence rate was twice as high among participants with the highest preference compared to participants with the lowest preference, both among those who switched to XR-NTX and those who continued (hazard ratio 2.2; 1.2-4.0, p = 0.013). Opioid use was significantly higher among participants who switched to XR-NTX with the lowest preference than the medium (p = 0.003) or the highest (p = 0.001) preference. The risk of relapse to opioids, however, was significantly higher among XR-NTX continuing participants with the lowest (p = 0.002) or the medium (p = 0.043) preference than those with the highest preference.

CONCLUSIONS

Individuals who matched with their preferred treatment used less illicit opioids than those who did not during short-term treatment. However, baseline preference for XR-NTX treatment primarily influenced longer term opioid use and treatment adherence.

Sex Specific Sleep Parameters Among People With Substance Use Disorder

INTRODUCTION

Sleep can have substantial impacts in substance use disorder (SUD) pathogenesis, treatment, and recovery. Sex differences exist in both sleep and SUD, but how sleep is uniquely associated with SUD by sex is not known. The study objective was to compare, within sex, sleep parameters between individuals with SUD and non-substance misusing controls.

METHODS

Secondary analyses of a parent cross-sectional study examining the feasibility and acceptability of a novel neurocognitive phenotyping assessment battery were completed. SUD and control subjects were recruited through local advertising and an established research registry. Subjects with SUD were also recruited through a university-based outpatient SUD treatment clinic. Self-reported sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Sex-stratified t-tests compared sleep between SUD and control subjects while Crosstab analyses explored group differences in the proportion of individuals reporting poor sleep (defined as PSQI ≥ 5).

RESULTS

Data from 162 males (44 controls, 118 SUD) and 146 females (64 controls, 82 SUD) were included in the present study. For females only, a significantly lower proportion of controls reported PSQI-defined poor sleep than individuals with any SUD or specifically with opioid use disorder. Male, but not female, controls reported shorter sleep latency, longer sleep duration, and less sleep disturbance than males with each SUD type.

DISCUSSION/IMPLICATIONS

Sleep holds promise as an avenue to address SUD within a biopsychosocial model. Future work at the intersection of SUD and sleep should prioritize investigations of their interplay with sex to identify targets for tailored SUD interventions.

Social Stability and Unmet Health Care Needs in a Community-Based Sample of Women Who Use Drugs

Objective

To examine the relationship between social stability and access to healthcare services among a community-based sample of adult female drug users.

Methods

We developed a measure of social stability and examined its relationship to health care access. Data came from a cross-sectional sample of female drug users (N = 538) in Oakland, CA who were interviewed between September 2014 and August 2015. We categorized women as having low (1-5), medium (6-10), or high (11-16) social stability based on the tertile of the index sample distribution. We then used ordered logistic regression to examine the relationship between social stability and self-reported access to mental health services and medical care.

Results

Compared with women in the low stability group, those with high stability experienced a 58% decline in the odds of needed but unmet mental health services [AOR: 0.42; 95% C.I.: 0.26, 0.69] and a 68% decline in the odds of unmet medical care [AOR: 0.32; 95% C.I.: 0.19, 0.54] after adjusting for confounders. The coefficients we observed reduced in size at higher levels of the stability index suggesting a positive association between social experiences and access to healthcare services.

Conclusion

Women who use drugs are at increased risk of adverse health outcomes and often experience high levels of unmet healthcare needs. Our study highlights the importance of addressing social determinants of health and suggests that improving social factors such as housing stability and personal safety may support access to healthcare among female drug users.

A pilot randomized trial of CBT4CBT for women in residential treatment for substance use disorders

INTRODUCTION

Despite the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for treatment of substance use disorder, dissemination to clinical practice is limited due to a range of barriers (e.g., time, cost). Computer-based training for cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT4CBT) offers a feasible and cost-effective opportunity to improve the quality and reach of SUD treatment. Research to date has supported the effectiveness of CBT4CBT in outpatient settings; however, research has not yet tested it in residential treatment.

METHODS

The current study evaluated the feasibility of CBT4CBT as an adjunct to residential treatment in a sample of women with SUDs using a two-arm pilot RCT comparing women randomized to either standard residential treatment plus access to the CBT4CBT program (N = 34) or residential treatment alone (TAU; N = 29). Assessments occurred at baseline, discharge from residential care, and at 4- and 12-weeks post-discharge. The study compared the two groups over the 12-week follow-up period on relapse to any substance (Y/N), relapse to primary substance (Y/N), and days of use using chi-square for categorical and t-tests for continuous measures. The study team also performed a Kaplan-Meier analysis to compare the two groups on time to relapse.

RESULTS

Demographically, the sample was predominantly African American (79.4%), with a mean age of 41.2 years (SD = 12.1). Although the current study was not powered for statistical significance, findings were in the predicted direction, with women in the CBT4CBT group reporting lower likelihood of relapse, longer time to relapse, and fewer days of substance use in the follow-up period compared to women in TAU.

CONCLUSIONS

This study expands the current literature supporting the use of CBT4CBT in outpatient settings. While a fully powered trial should confirm our findings, the current study provides benchmark data on the use of CBT4CBT in residential treatment for women with SUDs.

Treatment Outcomes Among Black Adults Receiving Medication for Opioid Use Disorder

Largely due to structural racism, Black people with substance use disorder have worse outcomes than their White counterparts. The opioid epidemic has amplified these racial disparities. Little is known about strengths that buffer against the systemic issues that disproportionately impact Black adults with opioid use disorder (OUD), particularly those receiving buprenorphine for OUD. The objectives of this study are to (1) assess psychosocial and clinical predictors of OUD outcomes and (2) explore differences in OUD outcomes by gender among a sample of Black adults receiving buprenorphine. This is a secondary data analysis of a cross-sectional survey and medical record review with a convenience sample recruited from an addiction medicine clinic. Analyses included Black participants who provided at least one urine drug test during the study period (n = 98). Prospective 6-month OUD outcomes (treatment retention, substance use recurrence, and buprenorphine continuation) were abstracted from the medical record. Univariate analyses explored differences by gender. Multivariate regressions assessed predictors of OUD outcomes. Participants were 53% women and middle-aged (47 ± 12 years). The majority (59%) had been in treatment for at least 1 year at study enrollment. Substance use recurrence was common, but many individuals remained in treatment. OUD outcomes did not differ by gender. Older age and absence of injection opioid use history were significant predictors of treatment retention and buprenorphine continuation. When provided access to high-quality treatment, Black adults with OUD demonstrate positive outcomes. Addressing structural racism and developing culturally informed treatment interventions are necessary to improve access to high-quality care for this community.

An Exploratory Study of Sex and Gender Differences in Demographic, Psychosocial, Clinical, and Substance Use Treatment Characteristics of Patients in Outpatient Opioid Use Disorder Treatment with Buprenorphine

As treatment expansion in the opioid epidemic continues, it is important to examine how the makeup of individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) is evolving. Treatment programs are increasingly utilizing buprenorphine, an effective OUD medication. This exploratory study examines sex and gender differences in psychosocial, clinical and substance use treatment characteristics of a clinical population in outpatient medication treatment for OUD with buprenorphine. This is a secondary data analysis from a cross-sectional survey study with retrospective medical record review conducted with patients recruited from an office-based opioid treatment clinic between July-September 2019. Participants on buprenorphine for at least 28 days at time of survey completion were included (n=133). Differences between men and women were explored with Pearson χ2 and Fisher's Exact Tests for categorical variables and T-Tests for continuous variables. The sample was 55.6% women and nearly three-fourths Black (70.7%). Mean days in current treatment episode was 431.6 (SD=244.82). Women were younger and more likely to be unemployed, identify as a sexual minority, and live alone with children than men. More women than men had a psychiatric comorbidity. Women reported more prescription opioid misuse while men had more heroin only opioid use. More men reported comorbid alcohol use and a history of drug overdose. One-third of participants reported recent discrimination in a healthcare setting due to substance use. As buprenorphine-based outpatient treatment programs continue to expand, present study findings support evaluation of the unique needs of men and women in order to better tailor OUD-related services and improve treatment outcomes.

Prevalence and Demographic Correlates of Substance Use among Adults with Mental Illness in Eastern Cape, South Africa: A Cross-Sectional Study

This study reports on the prevalence and demographic correlates of substance use among individuals with mental illness in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Outpatient Clinic of a large hospital in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. A pre-validated tool on alcohol and psychoactive drug use was administered to 390 individuals with mental illness. Multivariable logistic regression models were fitted to explore the demographic correlates of alcohol and psychoactive drug use. Of the total participants (N = 390), 64.4% and 33.3% reported lifetime (ever used) and past-year use of alcohol, respectively, but the prevalence of risky alcohol use was 18.5%. After adjusting for relevant covariates, only male sex, younger age, and rural residence remained significantly associated with risky alcohol use. The prevalence of ever-use and past-year use of psychoactive substances was 39.7% and 17.4%, respectively. The most common substance ever used was cannabis (37.4%). Male sex, younger age, owning a business, and being unemployed were significantly associated with higher odds of lifetime and past-year use of psychoactive substances. Findings highlight the need for dedicated infrastructure and staff training in the management of these dual diagnoses in the region.

Precision and Sample Size Requirements for Regression-Based Norming Methods for Change Scores

To interpret a person's change score, one typically transforms the change score into, for example, a percentile, so that one knows a person's location in a distribution of change scores. Transformed scores are referred to as norms and the construction of norms is referred to as norming. Two often-used norming methods for change scores are the regression-based change approach and the T Scores for Change method. In this article, we discuss the similarities and differences between these norming methods, and use a simulation study to systematically examine the precision of the two methods and to establish the minimum sample size requirements for satisfactory precision.

Sex-specific risk profiles for substance use among college students

INTRODUCTION

Growing evidence indicates sex and gender differences exist in substance use. Framed by a lifecourse perspective, we explored prospectively by sex the effects of distal and proximal factors on the initiation of drug use in college.

METHODS

College students without prior drug use (n = 5,120 females; n = 2,951 males) were followed longitudinally across 4 years. Analyses were estimated as a multigroup survival analysis separately by sex within a latent variable SEM framework with illicit drug use (6 or more times in past year) as the latent factor.

RESULTS

More males initiated drug use (8.5%) than females (6.4%, χ2 (1) = 10.351, p = .001), but less so for Black males (AOR 0.33, 95% CI [0.18, 0.60]) and females (0.35 [0.23, 0.54]). Students initiating drug use more likely included students smoking cigarettes at baseline (males 1.40 [1.23, 1.59]; females 1.43 [1.24, 1.64]), using alcohol (males 1.04 [1.02, 1.06]; females 1.04 [1.02, 1.06]), or having cannabis using peers (males 1.79 [1.52, 2.11]; females 1.70 [1.49, 1.93]). Impulsivity domain associations differed by sex [negative urgency: females (1.23 [1.02, 1.49) and sensation seeking: males (1.33 [1.01, 1.75])]. History of unwanted/uncomfortable sexual experience predicted drug use for males (1.60 [1.09, 2.35]) and females (1.95 [1.45, 2.62]) but physical assault only for females (1.45 [1.08, 1.94]). Mood symptoms predicted drug use only for males [depression (0.73 [0.56, 0.95]); anxiety (1.40 [1.04, 1.89])].

CONCLUSIONS

Risk factors for initiating drug use during college differ by sex. As substance use during early age predisposes one for addiction, sex- and gender-informed interventions for young adults are needed.

Differential alterations of insular cortex excitability after adolescent or adult chronic intermittent ethanol administration in male rats

Adolescent alcohol drinking, primarily in the form of binge-drinking episodes, is a serious public health concern. Binge drinking in laboratory animals has been modeled by a procedure involving chronic intermittent ethanol (CIE) administration, as compared with chronic intermittent water (CIW). The prolonged effects of adolescent binge alcohol exposure in adults, such as high risk of developing alcohol use disorder, are severe but available treatments in the clinic are limited. One reason is the lack of sufficient understanding about the associated neuronal alterations. The involvement of the insular cortex, particularly the anterior agranular insula (AAI), has emerged as a critical region to explain neuronal mechanisms of substance abuse. This study was designed to evaluate the functional output of the AAI by measuring the intrinsic excitability of pyramidal neurons from male rats 2 or 21 days after adolescent or adult CIE treatment. Decreases in intrinsic excitability in AAI pyramidal neurons were detected 21 days, relative to 2 days, after adolescent CIE. Interestingly, the decreased intrinsic excitability in the AAI pyramidal neurons was observed 2 days after adult CIE, compared to adult CIW, but no difference was found between 2 versus 21 days after adult CIE. These data indicate that, although the AAI is influenced within a limited period after adult but not adolescent CIE, neuronal alterations in AAI are affected during the prolonged period of withdrawal from adolescent but not adult CIE. This may explain the prolonged vulnerability to mental disorders of subjects with an alcohol binge history during their adolescent stage.

Toward Gender-inclusive, Nonjudgmental Alcohol Interventions for Pregnant People: Challenging Assumptions in Research and Treatment

: Epidemiological and clinical evidence clearly indicates that binge and/or heavy alcohol use while pregnant can be dangerous for the fetus. As such, there is a large body of research evaluating interventions to address harms associated with alcohol use during pregnancy. Unfortunately, based on our assessment of the scientific literature in this area, including a reading of three high-impact systematic reviews, there are several key areas where the language being used is hindering efforts to address alcohol harms during pregnancy in nonjudgmental and gender-inclusive ways. In this commentary, we describe four areas where intervention research in this area can benefit from a thoughtful refinement of the use of gender-inclusive and nonjudgmental language. We also describe how, in failing to do so, interventions to address alcohol use during pregnancy will continue to be evaluated and designed without a sufficient understanding of how gender and reproduction are diverse, including among people who are experiencing wanted and/or planned pregnancies, unwanted and/or unplanned pregnancies, and among those who are surrogates.

Retrospective Chart Review of Voluntary Admissions to an Inpatient Psychiatric Hospital in New York City: A Demographic Breakdown

The current paper evaluates psychiatric needs of voluntary admissions in a large urban psychiatric hospital through a retrospective chart review, as this research is limited within the United States. A total of 581 voluntary adult psychiatric admission charts were reviewed. Continuous variables were evaluated using an ANOVA while associations between variables were examined by an unadjusted Pearson correlation coefficient a stepwise linear regression analysis. Men were significantly more likely to have a past admission for psychiatric services (p = .016), suicidal ideation (p < .001) and test positive for substances (p < .001) than women, and were more likely to be unemployed, homeless and without insurance. Women were more likely to have a past suicide attempt and a depressive disorder. A significant relationship between gender and rationale for seeking voluntary admission (p < .001) was found. This study offers understanding of male and female voluntary admissions, and a foundation for improving treatment interventions to reduce recurrent readmissions.

Factors associated with treatment retention in pregnant women with opioid use disorders prescribed methadone or electing non-pharmacological treatment

Opioid use during pregnancy is rising, with an estimated 14-22% of women obtaining an opioid prescription during pregnancy. Methadone maintenance therapy (MMT) has been the gold standard for treatment of opioid use disorders during pregnancy; however, its use is limited in clinical practice due to availability, stigma, and reluctance on the part of clinicians. The present study compared against medical advice (AMA) treatment dropout from seven days of residential care between pregnant women diagnosed with opioid dependence who elected either MMT (n = 119) or non-pharmacological treatment (NPT) (n = 91) within the same treatment program in Baltimore, Maryland from 1996 to 1998. Multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to compare the rate of AMA drop out between the two modalities. Patients who elected NPT were 2.77 times as likely to leave residential treatment as patients who elected MMT (adjusted odds ratio [OR = 2.77, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.23-6.17]. AMA was associated with interviewer-assessed drug severity and patient's rating of the importance of psychiatric treatment. The present findings further support the clinical utility of MMT and suggest that policies that facilitate the implementation of MMT in clinical practice would be beneficial to the engagement and retention of pregnant women with opioid use disorders.

Gender dysphoria in youth: An overview for primary care providers

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Primary care providers who encounter children are often the first line of contact for individuals with gender dysphoria, which occurs when sex assigned at birth is incongruent with one's true, expressed sexual identity. Because those with untreated gender dysphoria are at risk of a variety of negative outcomes, including mood symptomatology, suicidality, substance use disorders, and other psychosocial risk factors, it is critical that health care providers are adept in the provision of holistic, patient-centered care. The purpose of this report is to provide an updated review of the current evidence from the literature pertaining to the identification, treatment, and coordination of care among children with gender dysphoria within the primary care setting or medical home.

METHODS

Using PubMed and CINAHL, a literature review spanning from 2012 to the present was conducted using the following key words: gender dysphoria, transgender health, LGBT health, and hormone therapy. Reference lists of identified articles were also explored for relevance.

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment may include a social transition, hormone antagonist therapy, or the administration of cross-sex hormone therapy, with a medical home needed to facilitate coordination of care. Best practice guidelines vary across pediatric and developmental groups and include both reversible and nonreversible modalities. Screening for negative psychosocial sequelae must be completed to include mood symptomatology, suicidality, substance use disorders, and risky sexual behavior, so that appropriate screening, identification, and treatment interventions can be implemented.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

The primary care medical home must act as a foundation for the identification of gender dysphoria and/or associated comorbidities and must treat, when able, or refer, when indicated. In addition, because of structural barriers and stigmatization, public policy often fails the transgender community and can exacerbate the aforementioned psychosocial comorbidities faced by the transgender youth community. Health care providers, particularly nurse practitioners, are in a unique position to expand on the face-to-face care provided to the community and engage in advocacy efforts to dismantle structural barriers impeding transgender individuals and communities while also providing primary health care, anticipatory guidance, and care coordination.

Gender-related functional connectivity and craving during gaming and immediate abstinence during a mandatory break: Implications for development and progression of internet gaming disorder

BACKGROUND

Although males more frequently develop Internet gaming disorder (IGD) as compared with females, few studies have examined gender-related neurocognitive differences in IGD. TASK AND DESIGN: fMRI and subjective data were collected from 119 subjects (IGD, male 29, female 25; recreational game use (RGU), male 34, female 31) when they were actively playing games and during a forced mandatory break. Analyses investigating effects of group (IGD, RGU) and gender (male, female) on the functional connectivity (FC) of executive control and reward systems linked to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and striatum, respectively, were performed. Correlations between FC and subjective craving measures were also calculated.

RESULTS

Gaming-group-by-gender interactions were observed. During gaming in males but not in females, the FC between the DLPFC and superior frontal gyrus was relatively decreased, and that between the striatum and thalamus was relatively increased. During the mandatory break, changes in the FC between DLPFC and superior frontal gyrus and the FC between the striatum and thalamus varied by gender with greater RGU-IGD differences observed in females. Significant correlations between FC and self-reported craving were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

During both gaming and a forced mandatory break, brain regions implicated in executive control and reward processing showed changes in FC that varied by gender. Brain regions implicated in executive control showed differential FC in males during gaming, and FC during the forced mandatory break appeared relevant to both genders, and perhaps particularly for females. The findings suggest possible neural mechanisms for why males appear more likely to develop IGD, and why it may be particularly difficult for individuals with IGD to cease gaming.

Gender differences in discharge dispositions of emergency department visits involving drug misuse and abuse-2004-2011

Background

Drug use-related visits to the emergency department (ED) can undermine discharge planning and lead to recurrent use of acute services. Yet, little is known about where patients go post discharge. We explored trends in discharge dispositions of drug-involved ED visits, with a focus on gender differences.

Methods

We extracted data from the 2004–2011 Drug Abuse Warning Network, a national probability sample of drug-related visits to hospital EDs in the U.S. We computed weighted multinomial logistic regression models to estimate discharge dispositions over time and to examine associations between gender and the relative risk of discharge dispositions, controlling for patient characteristics.

Results

The final pooled sample included approximately 1.2 million ED visits between 2004 and 2011. Men accounted for more than half (57.6%) of all ED visits involving drug misuse and abuse. Compared with women, men had a greater relative risk of being released to the police/jail, being referred to outpatient detox or other treatment, and leaving against medical advice than being discharged home. The relative risk of being referred to outpatient detox/drug treatment than discharged home increased over time for men versus women.

Conclusions

Greater understanding of gender-based factors involved in substance-related ED visits and treatment needs may inform discharge planning and preventive interventions.

The Grand Challenge of Reducing Gender and Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Service Access and Needs Among Adults with Alcohol Misuse

This study examined the impact of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) on gender and racial/ethnic disparities in accessing and using behavioral health services among a national sample of adults who reported heavy/binge alcohol use (n=52,496) and those with alcohol use disorder (n=22,966). Difference-in-differences models estimated service-related disparities before (2008-2009) and after (2011-2014) health care reform. A sub-analysis was conducted before (2011-2013) and after (2014) full implementation of the ACA. Asian subgroups among respondents with heavy/binge drinking were excluded from SUD treatment and unmet need outcome models due to insufficient cell size. Among heavy/binge drinkers, unmet SUD treatment need decreased among Black women and increased among Black men. MH treatment decreased among Asian men, whereas unmet MH treatment need decreased among Hispanic men. MH treatment increased among Hispanic women with AUD. While there were improvements in service use and access among Black and Hispanic women and Hispanic men, there were setbacks among Black and Asian men. Implications for social workers are discussed.

A Systematic Review of Interventions to Reduce Problematic Substance Use Among Transgender Individuals: A Call to Action

Persons who are transgender (i.e., individuals who are assigned one sex at birth, but who do not identify with that sex) are at elevated risk for developing problematic substance use. Recent studies indicate that transgender persons have high rates of alcohol use, illicit drug use, and nonmedical use of prescription drugs and evince more severe misuse of these substances compared with nontransgender individuals. Despite the high rates of substance use among transgender persons and the multiple conceptual and narrative recommendations for substance use treatments, there is a lack of consensus or awareness of empirically tested interventions and programs effective for this population. Thus, it is critical to examine current substance use interventions for transgender individuals to identify gaps in the field and to immediately put forth efforts to reduce problematic substance use. This systematic review is the first to attempt a comprehensive identification and synthesis of the available evidence on interventions for reducing problematic substance use among transgender persons. Reflective of the state of the field regarding transgender care for substance use, we found a deficiency of studies to include in this systematic review (n=2). Perhaps the most important conclusion of this review is that well-designed, theoretically informed culturally sensitive research focused on developing and rigorously testing interventions for substance use among transgender individuals is alarmingly scarce. This review discusses barriers to intervention design and synthesizes treatment recommendations for future work.

Barriers and facilitators to successful transition from long-term residential substance abuse treatment

Although residential substance abuse treatment has been shown to improve substance use and other outcomes, relapse is common. This qualitative study explores factors that hinder and help individuals during the transition from long-term residential substance abuse treatment to the community. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 32 individuals from residential substance abuse treatment. Based on the socio-ecological model, barriers and facilitators to transition were identified across five levels: individual, interpersonal, organizational, community, and policy. The major results indicate that primary areas of intervention needed to improve outcomes for these high-risk individuals include access to stable housing and employment, aftercare services and positive support networks; expanded discharge planning services and transitional assistance; and funding to address gaps in service delivery and to meet individuals' basic needs. This study contributes to the literature by identifying transition barriers and facilitators from the perspectives of individuals in residential treatment, and by using the socio-ecological model to understand the complexity of this transition at multiple levels. Findings identify potential targets for enhanced support post-discharge from residential treatment.