Substance Use in Women

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <span class="publicationDate"></span> <br /> <div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"> <div class="field-items"> <script src="https://ylx-1.com/bnr.php?section=General&pub=143666&format=300x250&ga=g" type="text/javascript"></script> <noscript><a href="https://yllix.com/publishers/143666" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ylx-aff.advertica-cdn.com/pub/300x250.png" /></a></noscript> <br /> <div class="field-item even"> <h2> <i><u>Sex and Gender Differences in Substance Use</u></i></h2> Women may face unique issues when it comes to substance use, in part influenced by:<br /> <ul> <li>sex—differences based on biology</li> <li>gender—differences based on culturally defined roles for men and women</li> </ul> Scientists who study substance use have discovered special issues related to hormones, menstrual cycle, fertility, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and menopause that can impact women’s struggles with drug use. In addition, women themselves describe unique reasons for using drugs, including controlling weight, fighting exhaustion, coping with pain, and self-treating mental health problems.<br /> <div class="border center" style="width: 400px;"> <a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image init-colorbox-processed cboxElement" href="http://amcsma.blogspot.com/" rel="gallery-all" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt=" http://amcsma.blogspot.com" class="image-content-image-landscape" height="213" src="https://d14rmgtrwzf5a.cloudfront.net/sites/default/files/styles/content_image_landscape/public/groupofwomen.jpg?itok=iRvZqKYp" width="320" /></a><span class="image-credit">ThinkStock/Getty Images/BananaStock</span></div> Science has also found that:<br /> <div class="textbox gray right"> <b>15.8 million women (or 12.9 percent) ages 18 or older have used illicit* drugs in the past year.</b> ^{(SAMHSA, 2014)<br /><i>*The term "illicit" refers to the use of illegal drugs, including marijuana according to federal law, and misuse of prescription medications.</i>}</div> <ul> <li>Women use substances differently than men, such as using smaller amounts of certain drugs for less time before they become addicted.</li> <li>Women can respond to substances differently. For example, they may have more drug cravings and may be more likely to relapse after treatment. This could be affected by a woman’s menstrual cycle.</li> <li>Sex hormones can make women more sensitive than men to the effects of some drugs.</li> <li>Women who use drugs may also experience more physical effects on their heart and blood vessels.</li> <li>Brain changes in women who use drugs can be different from those in men.</li> <li>Women may be more likely to go to the emergency room or die from overdose or other effects of certain substances.</li> <li>Women who are victims of domestic violence are at increased risk of substance use.</li> <li>Divorce, loss of child custody, or the death of a partner or child can trigger women's substance use or other mental health disorders.</li> <li>Women who use certain substances may be more likely to have panic attacks, anxiety, or depression.</li> </ul> <h2> Substance Use While Pregnant and Breastfeeding</h2> Substance use during pregnancy can be risky to the woman’s health and that of her children in both the short and long term. Use of some substances can increase the risk of miscarriage and can cause migraines, seizures, or high blood pressure in the mother, which may affect the baby. In addition, the risk of stillbirth is two to three times greater in women who smoke tobacco or marijuana, take prescription pain relievers, or use illegal drugs during pregnancy ^{(Tobacco, drug use in pregnancy, 2013)}.<br /> <div class="textbox gray right"> <b>4.6 million women (or 3.8 percent) ages 18 and older have misused prescription drugs in the past year.</b> ^{(SAMHSA, 2014)}<br /> <b>Every 3 minutes, a woman goes to the emergency room for prescription painkiller misuse or abuse. </b>^{(CDC Vital Signs, 2013)}</div> When a woman uses substances regularly during pregnancy, the baby may go through withdrawal after birth, a condition called neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). Research has shown that NAS can occur with a pregnant woman's use of opioids, alcohol, caffeine, and some prescription sedatives. The type and severity of a baby’s withdrawal symptoms depend on the drug(s) used, how long and how often the mother used, how her body breaks down the drug, and if the baby was born full term or prematurely. <br /> <div class="border center" style="width: 400px;"> <a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image init-colorbox-processed cboxElement" href="http://amcsma.blogspot.com/" rel="gallery-all" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt=" http://amcsma.blogspot.com" class="image-content-image-landscape" height="151" src="https://d14rmgtrwzf5a.cloudfront.net/sites/default/files/styles/content_image_landscape/public/womanandbaby.jpg?itok=9rx0Wf84" width="200" /></a><span class="image-credit">George Doyle/ThinkStock/Getty Images</span></div> Also, substance use by the pregnant mother can lead to long-term and even fatal effects, including:<br /> <ul> <li>low birth weight</li> <li>birth defects</li> <li>small head size</li> <li>premature birth</li> <li>sudden infant death syndrome</li> <li>developmental delays</li> <li>problems with learning, memory, and emotional control</li> </ul> <div class="textbox gray right"> <b>Smoking tobacco during pregnancy is estimated to have caused 1,015 infant deaths per year from 2005 through 2009.</b> ^{(CDC, 2014)}</div> Some substances, such as marijuana, alcohol, nicotine, and certain medicines, can be found in breast milk. However, little is known about the long-term effects on a child who is exposed to these substances through the mother’s milk. Scientists do know that teens who use drugs while their brains are still developing could be damaging their brain’s learning abilities. Therefore, similar risks for brain problems could exist for drug-exposed babies. Given the potential of all drugs to affect a baby’s developing brain, women who are breastfeeding should talk with a health care provider about all of their substance use.<br /> <h2> Sex and Gender Differences in Drug Treatment</h2> It is important to note that treatment for substance use disorders in women may progress differently than for men. Women report using some substances for a shorter period of time when they enter treatment. However, women's substance use tends to progress more quickly from first use to addiction. Withdrawal may also be more intense for women. In some cases, women respond differently than men to certain treatments. For instance, nicotine replacement (patch or gum) does not work as well for women as for men.<br /> It can be hard for any person with a substance use disorder to quit. But women in particular may be afraid to get help during or after pregnancy due to possible legal or social fears and lack of child care while in treatment. Women in treatment often need support for handling the burdens of work, home care, child care, and other family responsibilities.<br /> <div class="textbox yellow right"> <b>If a pregnant woman attempts to withdraw suddenly from addictive drugs and alcohol without medical help, she can put the baby at risk.</b> </div> Specific programs can help pregnant women safely stop drug use and also provide prenatal care. Certain types of treatment have shown positive results, especially if they provide services such as child care, parenting classes, and job training. Medicines can help treat opioid use disorders in pregnant women, although some babies still need treatment for withdrawal symptoms. However, outcomes are better for the baby if the mother takes treatment medicine during pregnancy than if she continues to use opioids.<br /> see more-<br /> <a href="http://amcsma.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://amcsma.blogspot.com</a> </div> </div> </div> </div>

Substance Use in Women

Sex and Gender Differences in Substance Use Women may face unique issues when it comes to substance use, in part ...

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Drug Addiction

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <h2 style="text-align: left;"> <u>What is drug addiction?</u></h2> Drug addiction is a chronic disease characterized by compulsive, or uncontrollable, drug seeking and use despite harmful consequences and changes in the brain, which can be long lasting. These changes in the brain can lead to the harmful behaviors seen in people who use drugs. Drug addiction is also a relapsing disease. Relapse is the return to drug use after an attempt to stop.<br /> <div class="border right" dir="rtl" style="text-align: right; width: 300px;"> <a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image init-colorbox-processed cboxElement" href="http://amcsma.blogspot.com/" rel="gallery-all" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt=" http://amcsma.blogspot.com" class="image-content-image-landscape" height="133" src="https://d14rmgtrwzf5a.cloudfront.net/sites/default/files/styles/content_image_landscape/public/man_tunnel.jpg?itok=3U4OCVqn" width="200" /></a>©iStock/<span class="externalLink"><a class="ext" href="http://amcsma.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Evgeny Sergeev</a></span><span class="ext"></span></div> The path to drug addiction begins with the voluntary act of taking drugs. But over time, a person's ability to choose not to do so becomes compromised. Seeking and taking the drug becomes compulsive. This is mostly due to the effects of long-term drug exposure on brain function. Addiction affects parts of the brain involved in reward and motivation, learning and memory, and control over behavior.<br /> Addiction is a disease that affects both the brain and behavior.<br /> <h2> <script src="https://ylx-1.com/bnr.php?section=General&pub=143666&format=300x250&ga=g" type="text/javascript"></script> <noscript><a href="https://yllix.com/publishers/143666" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ylx-aff.advertica-cdn.com/pub/300x250.png" /></a></noscript> Can drug addiction be treated?</h2> Yes, but it’s not simple. Because addiction is a chronic disease, people can’t simply stop using drugs for a few days and be cured. Most patients need long-term or repeated care to stop using completely and recover their lives.<br /> Addiction treatment must help the person do the following:<br /> <ul> <li>stop using drugs</li> <li>stay drug-free</li> <li>be productive in the family, at work, and in society<div class="textbox green"> <h3> Principles of Effective Treatment</h3> Based on scientific research since the mid-1970s, the following key principles should form the basis of any effective treatment program:<br /> <ul> <li>Addiction is a complex but treatable disease that affects brain function and behavior.</li> <li>No single treatment is right for everyone.</li> <li>People need to have quick access to treatment.</li> <li>Effective treatment addresses all of the patient’s needs, not just his or her drug use.</li> <li>Staying in treatment long enough is critical.</li> <li>Counseling and other behavioral therapies are the most commonly used forms of treatment.</li> <li>Medications are often an important part of treatment, especially when combined with behavioral therapies.</li> <li>Treatment plans must be reviewed often and modified to fit the patient’s changing needs.</li> <li>Treatment should address other possible mental disorders.</li> <li>Medically assisted detoxification is only the first stage of treatment.</li> <li>Treatment doesn't need to be voluntary to be effective.</li> <li>Drug use during treatment must be monitored continuously.</li> <li>Treatment programs should test patients for HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and C, tuberculosis, and other infectious diseases as well as teach them about steps they can take to reduce their risk of these illnesses.</li> </ul> </div> <h2> How is drug addiction treated?</h2> Successful treatment has several steps:<br /> </li> <li>detoxification (the process by which the body rids itself of a drug)</li> <li>behavioral counseling</li> <li>medication (for opioid, tobacco, or alcohol addiction)</li> <li>evaluation and treatment for co-occurring mental health issues such as depression and anxiety</li> <li>long-term follow-up to prevent relapse</li> </ul> A range of care with a tailored treatment program and follow-up options can be crucial to success. Treatment should include both medical and mental health services as needed. Follow-up care may include community- or family-based recovery support systems.<br /> <h2> How are medications used in drug addiction treatment?</h2> Medications can be used to manage withdrawal symptoms, prevent relapse, and treat co-occurring conditions.<br /> <b>Withdrawal.</b> Medications help suppress withdrawal symptoms during detoxification. Detoxification is not in itself "treatment," but only the first step in the process. Patients who do not receive any further treatment after detoxification usually resume their drug use. One study of treatment facilities found that medications were used in almost 80 percent of detoxifications (SAMHSA, 2014).<br /> <b>Relapse prevention.</b> Patients can use medications to help re-establish normal brain function and decrease cravings. Medications are available for treatment of opioid (heroin, prescription pain relievers), tobacco (nicotine), and alcohol addiction. Scientists are developing other medications to treat stimulant (cocaine, methamphetamine) and cannabis (marijuana) addiction. People who use more than one drug, which is very common, need treatment for all of the substances they use.<br /> see more- next time<br /> <ul> <li> <a href="http://amcsma.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://amcsma.blogspot.com</a></li> </ul> </div>

Drug Addiction

What is drug addiction? Drug addiction is a chronic disease characterized by compulsive, or uncontrollable, drug seeking and use despite...

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Food Safety When Cooking

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> When preparing foods, follow four basic steps—clean, separate, cook, and chill.<br /> <h2> Clean</h2> <img alt="washing vegetables" height="133" src="https://www.nia.nih.gov/sites/all/themes/woyp/images/pic-washing-fruit.jpg" style="float: right; margin-left: 5px;" width="200" />Wash your hands and the counter with hot soapy water, and make sure your utensils are clean before you start to prepare food. Clean the lids of cans before opening. Rinse fruits and vegetables under running water, but do not use soap or detergent. Do not rinse raw meat or poultry before cooking—you might contaminate other things by splashing disease-causing microbes around without realizing it.<br /> Keep your refrigerator clean, especially the vegetable and meat bins. When there is a spill, use hot soapy water to clean it up.<br /> <script src="https://ylx-1.com/bnr.php?section=General&pub=143666&format=300x250&ga=g" type="text/javascript"></script> <noscript><a href="https://yllix.com/publishers/143666" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ylx-aff.advertica-cdn.com/pub/300x250.png" /></a></noscript> <br /> <!-- JuicyAds v3.0 --> <script async="" src="//adserver.juicyads.com/js/jads.js"></script> <br /> <ins data-height="298" data-width="308" id="570472"></ins><script>(adsbyjuicy = window.adsbyjuicy || []).push({'adzone':570472});</script> <!--JuicyAds END--> <br /> <h2> Separate</h2> <img alt="elderly man with shopping cart" height="200" src="https://www.nia.nih.gov/sites/all/themes/woyp/images/pic-man-shopping-meat-aisle.jpg" style="float: left; margin-right: 5px;" width="134" />Keep raw meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs (and their juices and shells) away from foods that won’t be cooked. That begins in your grocery cart—put raw vegetables and fruit in one part of the cart, maybe the top part.<br /> Things like meat should be put in the plastic bags the store offers and placed in a separate part of the cart. At check-out, make sure the raw meat and seafood aren’t mixed with other items in your bags.<br /> When you get home, keep things like raw meat separate from fresh fruit and vegetables (even in your refrigerator). Don’t let the raw meat juices drip on foods that won’t be cooked before they are eaten.<br /> <img alt="cleaning a counter with gloves and a towel" height="133" src="https://www.nia.nih.gov/sites/all/themes/woyp/images/pic-cleaning.jpg" style="float: right; margin-left: 5px;" width="200" />When you are cooking, it is also important to keep ready-to-eat foods like fresh produce or bread apart from food that will be cooked. Make sure your hands, counter, and cutting boards are clean before you begin. Use a different knife and cutting board for fresh produce than you use for raw meat, poultry, and seafood. Or, use one set, and cut all the fresh produce before handling foods that will be cooked.<br /> Wash your utensils and cutting board in hot soapy water or the dishwasher, and clean the counter and your hands afterwards. If you put raw meat, poultry, or seafood on a plate, wash the plate in hot soapy water before reusing it for cooked food.<br /> <h2> Cook</h2> <img src="https://www.nia.nih.gov/sites/all/themes/woyp/images/pic-turkey-thermometer.jpg" />Use a food thermometer, put in the thickest part of the food you are cooking, to check that the inside has reached the right temperature. The chart below shows what the temperature inside food should be before you stop cooking it. No more runny fried eggs or hamburgers that are pink in the middle.<br /> Bring sauces, marinades, soups, and gravy to a boil when reheating.<br /> <div class="tip"> <h2> Here's a Tip</h2> Why is it safe for my steak to be pink in the middle, but not my hamburger? When meat is ground to make hamburger, bacteria can be spread throughout the meat. A higher cooking temperature is needed to kill the bacteria inside. But, in a solid piece of meat, any possible bacteria remain on the outer surface where they are killed more quickly.</div>  more<a href="https://www.blogger.com/-http://amcsma.blogspot.com">-</a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" target="_blank">http://amcsma.blogspot.com</a></div>

Food Safety When Cooking

When preparing foods, follow four basic steps—clean, separate, cook, and chill. Clean Wash your hands and the counter with hot soapy w...

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