Severity of Substance Abuse and Psychiatric Problems Among Perinatal Drug-Dependent Women

Abstract

The present study assessed 108 women enrolled in a residential treatment program for perinatal substance abusers in order to examine possible subtypes based on current alcohol, other drug and psychiatric problem severity. Most participants were African-American (81%), unmarried (91%), unemployed (97%), high school graduates (63%) with a mean age of 30 years. The primary substances of abuse were cocaine/crack (87%) and opiates (9%). The majority (79%) of subjects were also nicotine dependent. Drug severity did not distinguish between these groups; however, when cluster analysis was applied to ASI alcohol and psychiatric composite scores, three clusters emerged: (1) high alcohol, drug, and psychiatric problem severity (57%); (2) high drug and psychiatric problem severity (20%); and (3) high drug severity only (23%). Neither current nor childhood demographic characteristics differed among the three groups. However, significant differences were found among selected childhood risk factors, including perceived quality of relationships with family, age of onset of substance use, childhood abuse history, and family history of mental illness. These results emphasize the need for careful assessment and treatment planning that addresses the unique needs of these women.

Factors mediating and moderating the relationship between gender and utilization of health care among Puerto Rican drug users in New York

“…The findings that drug-using women, compared with drug-using men, were more depressed and that more of them had serious, chronic physical conditions are consistent with those often reported in the literature (e.g., Brown et al, 1999; Miles et al, 2002). The findings that drug-using women were more likely than drug-using men to live with a spouse and to have an IDU sex partner have also been documented elsewhere (Hser et al, 2004; Westermeyer and Boedicker, 2000).…”

“…Women usually begin their drug use at a later age than men, often being introduced by boyfriends or husbands (Inciardi et al, 1993). Drug-using women are also more likely than their male counterparts to have certain psychiatric or psychological problems (e.g., depression, anxiety) (Brown et al, 1995; 1999; Magura et al, 1998; Miles et al, 2002; Robles et al, 2006). Drug-using women who are HIV-positive report more HIV-related symptoms (Kang et al, 2008), more HIV medication side effects (Haug et al, 2005), more difficulties accessing health care (Lichtenstein, 2006), and more delays in initiating HIV treatment (Kang et al, 2008; McDonnell and Kessenich, 2000), than their male counterparts.…”

Comparing methadone and buprenorphine maintenance with methadone-assisted withdrawal for the treatment of opioid dependence during pregnancy: maternal and neonatal outcomes

“…For example, similar to this study, past studies show that average patient characteristics include a majority being unemployed, unmarried, and cigarette smokers 32,37–40…”

Reinforcement-Based Treatment Improves the Maternal Treatment and Neonatal Outcomes of Pregnant Patients Enrolled in Comprehensive Care Treatment

“…The present sample of drug‐dependent pregnant patients has, on average, characteristics comparable to similar such participants in other published studies. For example, the average patient characteristics include mean age in the mid‐childbearing age, with a majority being unemployed, unmarried, and polydrug users including nicotine 8,28,29 . Because the maternal characteristics of the present sample are similar to those characteristics of mothers in other reports, these similarities support the ability to generalize from these findings to the larger population of pregnant women treated for substance use disorders.…”