Nonmedical prescription opioid use among victimized women on probation and parole

Abstract

Background Nonmedical prescription opioid use (NPOU) is a major public health concern and few studies have described this phenomenon among victimized women involved in the criminal justice system. Objective This study will describe the relationship between victimization, psychological distress, health status and NPOU among the vulnerable population of victimized women on probation and parole. Methods A sample of 406 women on probation and parole responded to items assessing victimization history, self-reported health status, physical pain, psychological distress, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Multiple logistic regression analysis was utilized to differentiate NPOUs versus nonusers. Results Overall, 169 (41.6%) women reported lifetime NPOU, and 20% reported use in the past year. Compared to women who did not report NPOU, NPOUs were more likely to be White, have poorer general health, and more severe psychological distress across nine symptom domains. In multiple logistic regression models, each year of age reduced the odds of NPOU by 4%; White women were twice as likely as women of other races to report NPOU; each unit increase in the measure for physical pain was associated with a 30% increase in the odds of NPOU; and participants who met diagnostic criteria for PTSD were 60% more likely to report NPOU compared to individuals who did not. Conclusion Victimized women on probation and parole report high rates of NPOU and comorbid mental and physical health problems. The criminal justice system should routinely screen for NPOU, as well as untreated or poorly managed physical pain and psychological distress, which may increase risk of NPOU.

Correlates of HIV Risks Among Women on Probation and Parole

“…For example, among a sample of 948 women in a county jail, women who were Non-Hispanic White reported the highest rates of lifetime injection drug use, as well as the highest number of sexual partners in the past year (McClelland, Teplin, Abram, & Jacobs, 2002). Similarly, earlier analyses of this study's data found that participants who identified as White, Non-Hispanic were more likely to report nonmedical prescription opioid use than participants who identified as other racial/ethnic groups (Hall, Golder, Higgins, & Logan, 2016). Relatedly, among a Baltimore-based sample 482 adults using injection and noninjection drugs (41% female), Keen, Khan, Clifford, Harrell, and Latimer (2014) found that study participants who identified as White were more than twice as likely to inject heroin or multiple drugs than participants who identified as Black, and they were more likely to be diagnosed with Hepatitis C. However, participants who identified as Black were more likely to be diagnosed with HIV or both HIV and Hepatitis C, as also found in relation to HIV among women recruited from a prison in North Carolina (Rosen et al, 2009).…”

A Preliminary Study Examining Women's Physical Health and Nonmedical Prescription Opioid Use in a Recovering Framework

“…Sustained or heavy nonmedical prescription opioid use is associated with poor physical health, chronic medical conditions, and opioidinduced hyperalgesia. 15,[19][20][21] In addition, such physical health problems increase the difficulty of managing chronic medical conditions and health predicts slower progress in substance use treatment. 5,22 Finally, access to healthcare services, particularly among low-income women with nonmedical prescription opioid use disorder, is limited.…”

Substance misuse and community supervision: A systematic review of the literature

“…Factors that increase the likelihood that someone will misuse drugs and/or alcohol, or resume substance misuse after achieving abstinence were investigated in two studies. Firstly in terms of the relationship between non-medical prescription opioid use, and victimisation, psychological distress and health status in 406 women on probation and parole ( Hall, Golder, Higgins, & Logan, 2016 ). Here those using non-medical prescription opioids were “more likely to be White, have poorer general health, and more severe psychological distress” ( Hall et al., 2016 , p. 113).…”