What
are the consequences of drug abuse for women?
Research
indicates that women can become addicted quickly to certain
drugs, such as crack cocaine, even after casual or experimental
use. Therefore, by the time a woman enters treatment, she may
be severely addicted, making treatment more difficult. This
is also true when a woman becomes dependent on prescription
painkillers.
What happens
during treatment?
Treatment
should include an evaluation of other serious health problems-
associated with drug abuse. For women, some of these problems
are:
Poor
nutrition and below-average weight
Low
self-esteem
Depression
Physical
abuse
If
pregnant, pre-term labor or early delivery
Serious
medical and infectious diseases (e.g., increased blood pressure
and heart rate, STDs, HIV/AIDS).
Why do some women refuse
to seek treatment for drug abuse?
Many
drug-using women do not seek treatment because they are afraid,
they worry they won’t be able to keep or care for their
children, they fear reprisal from their spouses or boyfriends,
and they fear punishment from authorities in the community.
Many women report that their drug-using male sex partners initiated
them into drug abuse and then sabotaged their efforts to quit
using drugs.
Is
there a connection between drug abuse and HIV/AIDS?
Yes.
AIDS is now the fourth leading cause of death among women of
childbearing age in the United States. It is the leading cause
of death for African-American women between the ages of 25 and
44. Because HIV/AIDS often is transmitted through shared needles
or syringes, women who inject drugs or share drug paraphernalia
are at an increased risk of getting the deadly disease. In addition,
under the influence of illicit drugs and alcohol, a woman’s
judgement can become impaired. As a result, women may engage
in unprotected sex, which also increases their risk for contracting
or transmitting HIV/AIDS. Among the 1.5 million injecting drug
users, 14% are known to be infected with HIV.
What treatment is
available for women?
Research
indicates that more than 4 million women need treatment for
drug abuse. Unfortunately, there are some significant reasons,
as stated above, why many women do not seek help. Research shows
that women receive the most benefit from drug treatment programs
that provide comprehensive services for meeting their basic
needs, including access to:
Food,
clothing, and shelter
Transportation
Job
counseling and training
Legal
assistance
Literacy
training and educational opportunities
Parenting
training
Family
therapy
Medical
care
Child
care
Social
services
Social
support
Psychological
assessment and mental health care
Assertiveness
training
Family
planning services.
Traditional
male-oriented drug treatment programs may not be appropriate
for women because those programs may not provide these services.
Research also indicates that for women in particular, treatment
is more successful when they stay in regular touch with their
treatment provider. When a woman lapses during the treatment
and recovery process; it is important that they get the support
of the community and encouragement of those closest to them.
After completing a drug treatment program, women also need services
to assist them in sustaining their recovery and in rejoining
the community.
Where can I call
if I have questions related to drug abuse?
A
toll-free hotline is available to provide free, confidential
answers to women seeking help for themselves or for someone
they care about, or to provide referral to a local drug treatment
program. The National Drug Information, Treatment, and Referral
Line is reached through 1-800-662-HELP (1-800-66-AYUDA for Spanish-speaking
callers.) The hotline operates Monday through Friday from 9
a.m. to 3 a.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 12 noon to 3 a.m.
Are there any additional
on-line resources about drug abuse?
Yes,
the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information's
PREVline is an electronic communication system dedicated to
exchanging ideas and information concerning alcohol, tobacco
and illicit drug problem prevention. Home pages of federal agencies
and services, clearinghouses and other related online services
can be accessed through PREVline or directly through the following
addresses:
Department
of Health and Human Services is the principal agency for protecting
the health of all Americans and providing essential human services,
especially for those who are least able to help themselves.
Substance
Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's site also
provides access to the home pages of the Center for Substance
Abuse Treatment (CSAT), Center for Substance Abuse Prevention
(CSAP) and Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS).
National
Institutes of Health is one of the foremost biomedical research
centers and the Federal focal point for biomedical research
in the U.S.
National
Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism supports and conducts
biomedical research on the causes, consequences, treatment and
prevention of alcoholism and alcohol-related problems.
National
Institute on Drug Abuse brings the power of science to bear
on drug abuse and addiction.
National
Library of Medicine is the world's largest library dealing with
a single scientific/professional topic, carrying over 4.5 million
holdings.
Drug
Enforcement Administration enforces the controlled substances
laws and regulations of the U.S.
Indian
Health Service is an agency of the Public Health Service providing
health care to American Indians and Alaska Natives.
Office
of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) Drugs and Crime Clearinghouse
specializes in disseminating information on drug-use trends,
drug-related crime issues and national drug-control policy.
The
Center for Substance Abuse Research (CESAR) at the University
of Maryland, College Park, collects, analyzes and disseminates
information on the nature and extent of substance abuse and
related problems in Maryland and nationally.
Hazelden
is a non-profit organization providing high-quality, affordable
rehabilitation, education, prevention and professional services
and publications relating to chemical dependency and related
disorders.
Mothers
Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is a non-profit organization that
aims to stop drunk driving and to support the victims of this
violent crime.
Indiana
Prevention Resource Center is a statewide clearinghouse for
technical assistance on prevention and information about alcohol,
tobacco and other drugs.
Wisconsin
Clearinghouse for Prevention Resources is part of the University
Health Services at the University of Wisconsin-Madison providing
educational materials and training information.
How can I locate a
drug abuse treatment program?
You
can call 1-800-662-HELP or use a national directory of substance
and alcohol abuse treatment programs is available on the Internet.
For
more information...
You can find out more about substance abuse and treatment by
contacting the following organizations:
National
Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information
Phone: (800) 449-2559 (Children's Line to Wally Bear & the
Know), (800) 729-6686 (General Inquiries, and Publication Service)
Internet Address: http://www.health.org/
National
Drug and Alcohol Treatment Referral Hotline
Phone: (800) 662-4357 (Drug & Alcohol Treatment Referrals)
Internet Address: http://www.samhsa.gov/csat/csat.htm
American
Council for Drug Education
Phone: (800) 488-3784
Internet Address: http://www.acde.org/
American
Council on Alcoholism
Phone: (800) 527-5344 Help Line
Internet Address: http://www.aca-usa.org/
This
information was abstracted from fact sheets prepared by the
National Institute on Drug Abuse (CDC Report Highlights Link
Between Drug Abuse and Spread of HIV).
