Childhood Adverse Events and Health Outcomes Among Methamphetamine-Dependent Men and Women

Abstract

To describe the prevalence of childhood adverse events (CAEs) among methamphetamine-dependent men and women, and assess the relationship of cumulative CAEs to health problems. Data for 236 men and 351 women were analyzed assessing CAEs. Dependent variables included 14 self-reported health problems or psychiatric symptom domains. Mental health was assessed via the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview. Medical conditions were collected using the Health Status Survey. Women reported more cumulative exposure to CAEs than men (28% vs. 13%, p<0.01).Regressions showed the impact of CAEs on health is strong for both men and women. Yet, women were more likely than men to have 7 out of 14 health problems, independent of their reported abuse (ranging from a positive OR for suicidality=1.63 to a positive OR for bladder/bowel disease=6.09). Substance abuse treatment programs should prioritize individual treatment plans and enhance multi-agency collaborations to provide referrals and community networks that offer clients appropriate trauma-based psychiatric and/or medical treatment.Keywords Childhood abuse and household dysfunction . Gender . Methamphetamine . Mental health . Physical health Methamphetamine (MA) use in the US began to dramatically increase in the 1990s. As the MA epidemic moves beyond its second decade, substantial increases in the number of substance abuse treatment admissions for MA dependence have been reported across the nation . The rapid influx of MA-dependent clients entering substance abuse treatment raises new issues for treatment practitioners, as some characteristics of a MA-dependent population differ from other treatment-seeking populations (Sekine et al. 2001). One major difference is the overall health of MA-dependent clients, who often have serious physical and mental health problems (Brecht et al.

Social Functioning, Victimization, and Mental Health among Female Offenders

“…Mental health professionals and prison administrators who work with incarcerated females must be aware of these statistics, particularly in light of research exploring the influence of victimization on the victim's life after the event (e.g., Ireland & Widom, 1994;Malinosky-Rummell & Hansen, 1993;McClellan, Farabee, & Crouch, 1997;Messina et al, 2007;Mullings, Hartley, & Marquart, 2004). Among females who are incarcerated or abuse substances in particular, victimization and trauma during childhood have been linked to medical and mental health problems during adulthood (Messina et al, 2008;Messina & Grella, 2006).…”

Substance abuse among Iranian high school students

“…Childhood and family adverse events are also associated with more drug abuse problems in Iran and other countries (58–60). Drug abuse is also reported in association with impulsivity (30) and delinquent antisocial behaviors in Iran (22) as well as other countries (61–64).…”

Gender-based differences in injecting drug use by young adults who experienced maltreatment in childhood: Findings from an Australian birth cohort study

“…For example, longitudinal studies have shown that females are more likely to experience sexual abuse (Ompad et al, 2005; Wang et al, 2010), with many females experiencing multiple forms of maltreatment (Messina et al, 2008; Wang et al, 2010) whereas males experience physical abuse (Wang et al, 2010). In cross-sectional studies, there is also evidence of gender differences in the experience of specific (Kang, Deren, & Goldstein, 2002; Lake et al, 2015; Markowitz et al, 2011; Shand, Degenhardt, Slade, & Nelson, 2011) and multiple (Wu et al, 2010) forms of childhood maltreatment in injecting drug users.…”