Important to recognize that addiction, abuse in females is different.

2002 NOV 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Lynn Yoffee, senior medical writer - Female patients who have addictive and substance abuse disorders are unique. Prevention efforts as well as treatment should be tailored to fit those specialized needs in order to attain successful outcomes.

Three osteopathic physicians shared their views and experience on the subject at the American Osteopathic Association's 107th Annual Convention and Scientific Seminar in Las Vegas, Nevada, in a series of sessions on women and addictive disorders.

One-half of all women who use illicit drugs do so during childbearing years, reported Stephen A. Wyatt, DO, medical director/clinical program director, research associate, Yale University, North Stonington, Connecticut, in a session entitled "Epidemiology of female addictive illness."

Wyatt cited a plethora of studies to surmise even further evidence that addiction as it relates to women is a unique predicament:

"Most women who use drugs or alcohol are not married, not working, have less than 16 years of formal education, and rely on public funding for hospital stays," he said. "Seventy percent of women who use drugs have been physically or sexually abused, have low self esteem, feel powerless, and minority women face additional cultural and language barriers that affect treatment outcomes."

Wyatt also said that females are younger at the time of first hospitalization, likely to be living with a drug-dependent partner, score lower on social function scales than males, and frequently require a crisis to slip into heavy drinking such as divorce, desertion, infidelity, postpartum depression, or a child leaving home.

"A strong association exists between the use of illicit drugs and sexual and physical assault in women. It's generally accepted that around 75% of women in substance abuse treatment have a history of assault," he said.