Distinct Gender Differences in Risk for Prescription Abuse

Goal of Assessing Rates and characteristics of Problematic Opioid Use,

A new research study has found that there are distinct gender differences underscoring the risks for prescription drug abuse. For the study, 662 chronic non-cancer pain patients who use opioid pain medications were surveyed with the goal of assessing rates and characteristics of problematic opioid use, profiles of risk factors for possible misuse, and predictive connections between risk factors and resulting abuse.

The researchers assumed that predictors of misuse would be different in men and women, expecting that opioid abuse among women would be closely tied to psychological stress.

"Since little has been published about gender differences and misuse of prescription pain medication, it is valuable to document whether risk factors for abuse are gender-specific to some degree. This could help clinicians be more proactive in adopting risk-prevention interventions," said Robert N. Jamison, lead author of the study and a clinical psychologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.

The results of the study proved that men and women have similar frequencies of drug behavior, but gender differences were found as risk factors for the misuse of pain medications.

"Our analysis showed that drug misuse by women is motivated more by emotional issues and psychological distress while in men this behavior usually stems from problematic social and behavioral problems that lead to substance abuse," said Jamison.

"Further, women who misuse pain drugs are more likely to admit to being sexually or physically abused or have a history of psychiatric or psychological problems."