Opioid Health Effects on Women PDF

## Opioids and Health Effects on Women - No menstrual cycle differences in women's subjective experience or physiological reaction to opioids - Women using heroin or methadone do experience menstrual abnormalities, particularly amenorrhea or an irregular menstrual cycle - Deficits in sexual desire...

## Opioids and Health Effects on Women - No menstrual cycle differences in women's subjective experience or physiological reaction to opioids - Women using heroin or methadone do experience menstrual abnormalities, particularly amenorrhea or an irregular menstrual cycle - Deficits in sexual desire and performance are also consequences of heroin use - Amenorrhea and other symptoms often make women believe they are permanently sterile, a fear that can be lessened with education - Women are at first more sensitive to overdose than men; yet, after a few years are more likely than men to survive ## Say: - Research is lacking that would allow definitive conclusions about gender similarities or differences in the effects of heroin use: such as scarred and collapsed veins, bacterial infections of blood vessels and heart valves, abscesses, cellulitis, and liver or kidney disease - Research suggests that there are no menstrual cycle differences in women's subjective experience or physiological reaction to opioids, but women using heroin or methadone do experience menstrual abnormalities, particularly amenorrhea or an irregular menstrual cycle. - It can take up to a year for regular menstrual cycles to resume after drug use is stopped. - Deficits in sexual desire and performance are also consequences of heroin use. These deficits are true for both men and women but the issues affect men and women differently. - These symptoms probably are related to the lower levels of luteinizing hormone, estradiol, and progesterone. - Amenorrhea and other symptoms often make women believe they are permanently sterile, a fear that can be lessened with education. Like we should do for all women and men, discussing reproductive life issues can be a time for including a discussion about contraceptive practices. - One study found that women are more at risk than men for overdose death due to injecting heroin in the first few years. One reason for this finding is that women who inject heroin are more likely than their male counterparts to also use prescription drugs. - Women who do not overdose within these first few years are more likely than men to survive in the long term. This could be due to differences in treatment and other environmental factors that impact heroin use. ## Cannabis and Health Effects on Women - Studies on cannabis have focused specifically on gender differences - Findings suggest that the effects of cannabis do not vary markedly across the menstrual cycle - Men appear to be more sensitive to the analgesic effects of cannabis than women - Women show greater improvements in appetite with cannabis compared to men but other outcomes, including ratings of nausea or quality of life measures were not different ## Say: - Studies on cannabis effects have always focused specifically on gender differences; little is known about how cannabis affects men and women differently. - In studies evaluating hormonal changes and the physiological and psychological effects of cannabis use, findings suggest that the effects of cannabis do not vary markedly across the menstrual cycle. ## Prescription and Over the Counter Medications and Health Effects on Women - Women are significantly more likely to use and misuse prescription medications - Over-the-counter (OTC) medications include cold remedies, antihistamines, sleep aids, and other legally obtained nonprescription medications. - Misuse of these medications can result in serious medical complications for those with eating disorders - Complications can involve the gastrointestinal, neuromuscular, and cardiac systems and can be lethal. - Many prescription and OTC medications interact negatively with alcohol and drugs. ## Say: - Women are significantly more likely to be prescribed or to use prescription medications, including anxiolytics (antianxiety medications) and narcotic analgesics (pain medications), than are men. Please note that in some settings what we call prescription medications are readily available without prescriptions (e.g, there are places where anti-anxietyedications like benzodiazepines and pain medications that have opioids in them can be purchased from a market or a pharmacy). - Little research is available, however, on the gender differences and differential physiological effects of misuse of prescription medications. - Moreover, research into the influence of hormonal changes across the menstrual cycle on subjective, behavioral, and physiological effects is limited to benzodiazepines, and findings are minimal. - Over-the-counter (OTC) medications include cold remedies, antihistamines, sleep aids, and other legally obtained nonprescription medications. - It is not uncommon for individuals with eating disorders, particularly those diagnosed with bulimia nervosa, to misuse laxatives, diuretics, emetics, and diet pills. - Misuse of these medications can result in serious medical complications for those with eating disorders, who primarily are women. - Complications can involve the gastrointestinal, neuromuscular, and cardiac systems and can be lethal. Many prescription and OTC medications interact negatively with alcohol and other drugs. ## Tobacco and Health Effects on Women - Compared to men, women who smoke show higher disease risk regardless of smoking level or intensity - Women who smoke: - Have an increased risk of peptic ulcers - Have an increased risk of menstrual issues - Are more likely to be diagnosed with cancer - Have a higher risk for delayed conception and infertility - Have an increased risk for ischemic stroke - Are more likely to have premature decline in lung function, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and coronary heart disease - Have an increased risk of developing cataracts and macular degeneration - Reach menopause at a younger age - Have lower bone densities and an increased risk for hip fracture after menopause ## Say: - The health risks associated with nicotine use are considerable, particularly among women. It is important to note that women may smoke due to social deprivation or other non-nicotine related issues. - In comparison with men, women who smoke show higher disease risk regardless of smoking level or intensity. - Women who smoke, compared to their male counterparts and women who do not smoke, have a variety of worse health conditions such as: - Increased risk of peptic ulcers and Crohn's disease - Increased risk of estrogen deficiency; difficult, irregular or painful menstruation; and amenorrhea - Are more likely to be diagnosed with cancer, including cancer of the lung, bladder, cervix, pancreas, kidney, larynx, esophagus, liver, and colon - A higher risk for delayed conception and infertility - Are more likely to deliver premature and low-birth-weight infants - Have an increased risk for ischemic stroke, subarachnoid hemorrhage, peripheral vascular atherosclerosis, and an abdominal aortic aneurysm rupture - Are more likely to have premature decline in lung function, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and coronary heart disease - Have an increased risk of developing cataracts and macular degeneration - Reach menopause at a younger age - Have lower bone densities and an increased risk for hip fracture after menopause ## Dangers of “Energy Drinks” - Concerning effects include: - Heart skipping a beat or beating too fast - Hands shaking - Agitation or feeling restless - Stomach problems - Chest pain - Dizziness - Tingling or numbing of the skin - Can't sleep - Respiratory distress - Headaches ## Say: - The dangers of energy drinks are published. They are shown on the slides in order of most to least frequency. - Caffeine tolerance varies between individuals, but for most people more than 400mg/day may lead to restlessness, increased heartbeat, and insomnia. - Higher dosages of caffeine can lead to Increased blood pressure, heart palpitations, Anxiety and panic attack, diarrhea, dizziness, irritability, nausea, nervousness, jitters - Most energy drinks are high in sugar in the form of high fructose corn syrup and/or cane sugar. Some use creative names to make their version of sugar seem “healthier”, like "natural cane juice”. High sugar drinks are linked to the obesity, tooth decay, and type 2 diabetes. ## Women: Increased Vulnerability with Substance Use Disorders - Both genders are vulnerable to substance use disorders- but women may show more severe psychiatric, medical, and employment problems. - Among women who seek treatment, the age of onset of regular use does not show gender difference - but women who use opioids, cannabis, and alcohol enter treatment sooner after onset. - Findings suggest the existence of an increased vulnerability in women to the adverse consequences of use of these drugs. - Very few women who use drugs use only a single drug, and any investigations of use are complicated by a variety of personal, social, and environmental factors. ## Say: - Both genders are vulnerable to substance use disorders- but women may show more severe psychiatric, medical, and employment problems. - Among women who seek treatment, the age of onset of regular use does not show gender difference-but women who use opioids, cannabis, and alcohol enter treatment sooner after onset. - Findings suggest the existence of an increased vulnerability in women to the adverse consequences of use of these drugs. - Very few women who use drugs use only a single drug, and any investigations of use are complicated by a variety of personal, social, and environmental factors.