Comparative Profiles of Men and Women with Opioid Dependence: Results from a National Multisite Effectiveness Trial

• Published in: The American journal of drug and alcohol abuse 2011-09, Vol.37 (5), p.313-323
• Main Authors: Back, Sudie E., Payne, Rebecca L., Wahlquist, Amy Herrin, Carter, Rickey E., Stroud, Zachary, Haynes, Louise, Hillhouse, Maureen, Brady, Kathleen T., Ling, Walter
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Addiction; Addictions; Adult; Amphetamines; Analgesics, Opioid - administration & dosage; Analgesics, Opioid - adverse effects; Analgesics, Opioid - therapeutic use; Buprenorphine; Buprenorphine - administration & dosage; Buprenorphine - therapeutic use; Clinical research; Clinical trials; Clinical Trials Network; Comparative analysis; Craving; Demography; Drug Abuse; Drug addiction; Drug dependency; Drug use; Drugs; Effectiveness; Employment; Female; Females; gender; Gender differences; Health services utilization; Help seeking behavior; Humans; Male; Marijuana; Medical conditions; Medicine; Men; Methadone; Methamphetamine; Middle Aged; Morphine; Narcotics; Opiate Substitution Treatment - methods; Opiates; Opioid-Related Disorders - epidemiology; Opioid-Related Disorders - rehabilitation; Opioids; prescription drugs; Psychiatry; Severity; Severity of Illness Index; sex; Sex Differences; Sex Factors; Substance Abuse; Substance abuse treatment; Substance use disorder; Substance-Related Disorders - epidemiology; Trials; United States - epidemiology; Women
• ISSN: 0095-2990; 1097-9891
• DOI: 10.3109/00952990.2011.596982

Background: Accumulating evidence indicates important gender differences in substance use disorders. Little is known, however, about gender differences and opioid use disorders. Objectives: To compare demographic characteristics, substance use severity, and other associated areas of functioning (as measured by the Addiction Severity Index-Lite (ASI-Lite)) among opioid-dependent men and women participating in a multisite effectiveness trial. Methods: Participants were 892 adults screened for the National Institute on Drug Abuse Clinical Trials Network investigation of the effectiveness of two buprenorphine tapering schedules. Results: The majority of men and women tested positive for oxycodone (68% and 65%, respectively) and morphine (89% each). More women than men tested positive for amphetamines (4% vs. 1%, p < .01), methamphetamine (11% vs. 4%, p < .01), and phencyclidine (8% vs. 4%, p = .02). More men than women tested positive for methadone (11% vs. 6%, p = .05) and marijuana (22% vs. 15%, p = .03). Craving for opioids was significantly higher among women (p < .01). Men evidenced higher alcohol (p < .01) and legal (p = .04) ASI composite scores, whereas women had higher drug (p < .01), employment (p < .01), family (p < .01), medical (p < .01), and psychiatric (p < .01) ASI composite scores. Women endorsed significantly more current and past medical problems. Conclusions: Important gender differences in the clinical profiles of opioid-dependent individuals were observed with regard to substance use severity, craving, medical conditions, and impairment in associated areas of functioning. The findings enhance understanding of the characteristics of treatment-seeking men and women with opioid dependence, and may be useful in improving identification, prevention, and treatment efforts for this challenging and growing population.