Substance abuse disorders in women are under-recognized and under-treated. Although 1/3 of 1/2 of persons in the U.S. needing help for substance abuse are women, less than 20% of persons receiving care are women.

One national study indicates that fewer than 14% of the 4 million women in the U.S. needing drug treatment receive help.

Georgia serves a higher percentage of women with substance abuse problems than many other states. Of more than 55,000 persons admitted for care in 1989, 30% were women.

Addictive disorders take a different course in women than in men. Understanding how to intervene and treat problems, however, is based largely on studies of male alcoholics and addicts. Traditional programs do not meet women's needs; they may not complete treatment without gaining skills needed to maintain recovery as a woman.

" ... little attention has been paid to specific women's treatment issues, including the different emotional, social and economic realities of women's lives." - N. Finklestein.

Virtually all drugs, especially alcohol, are far more damaging to women than men. Women come to treatment much sicker, with far more physical deterioration. Many have been battered or sexually abused. these issues, which lead to relapse, should be dealt with in women-only treatment settings.

Women develop more liver cirrhosis than men. Some studies indicate the rate for cirrhosis in women is twice that for men.

Women progress rapidly from onset of drinking through later stages of alcoholism ("telescoping").

Alcohol use is associated with increased risk of breast cancer. As little as 1/2 to 1 1/2 drinks per day is linked to cancer risk.

AIDS is now one of the 10 leading causes of death among American women. of child-bearing age, and is expected to become one of the top 5 killers by 1992.

Women's social status derives from men (e.g., husband, fathers) and their supply of drugs is also likely to be obtained from men, whether boyfriends, conjugal partners, or physicians.

Women experience more social disapproval of alcohol use and alcoholic women are more stigmatized.

Women in treatment for cocaine abuse are more likely to also be diagnosed with depression, and to have slower recovery from depression than men.

Unlike other illegal drugs, crack is popular among women and youth. Researchers attribute this to cheap price and users' perception that smoking a drug is more acceptable than injecting a drug.

Surveyors report that about 1/3 of all adolescents who try crack are girls.

A Miami study found that 75% of youth drug users preferred crack to cocaine. reasons given included the drug's rapid onset, seemingly greater potency, ready availability, low cost, and ease of concealment.

"The epidemic of drug abuse has overwhelmed American women and children." - L. Finnegan, Ph.D.

REFERENCES:

U.S. General Accounting Office, "ADMS Block Grant: Women's set-aside does not assure drug treatment for pregnant women", May 6, 1991.

U.S. General Accounting Office, "The crack cocaine epidemic: Health consequences and treatment", January 10, 1991.

Judith Gevalier, Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh, Presentation at the Institute of Medicine Conference, May 1991.

Frederick K. Goodwin, Director, ADAMAHA, Presentation at the Institute of Medicine Conference, May 1991.

N. Finklestein, "Treatment issues, women and substance abuse". Presentation at ADAMHA Conference, September, 1990.

Loretta P. Finnegan, M.D., "Maternal addiction", Special Currents: Maternal Addiction, Ross Labs, 1990.

Georgia Department of Human Resources, Division of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse, "State alcohol and drug abuse profile", 1990.

Barbara W. Lex, "Some gender differences in alcohol and polysubstance users," Health Psychology, 10(2), 121-132, 1991.

Atlanta Journal and Constitution, "AIDS among top 10 killers of young women", July 11, 1990.