Gender Differences in Heroin Users Receiving Methadone Maintenance Therapy in Taiwan

Abstract

This study examined gender differences in heroin users who first received MMT. Compared with men, female heroin users were younger and more likely to be unemployed, to have family members using illicit substances, to initiate heroin use at a younger age, to begin MMT earlier after starting heroin use, to have methamphetamine use, to initiate methamphetamine use at a younger age, and to report a child-raising burden and a prior history of traumatic experiences. Men were more likely to have use of betel quid, and to initiate alcohol, nicotine and betel quid use at a younger age than women.

Sex differences in outcomes of methadone maintenance treatment for opioid addiction: a systematic review protocol

“…Sex differences in opioid addiction [10,16-18] and methadone treatment [16,19-22] have been reported; significant sex differences in age, ethnicity, marital status, education, and employment [23], as well as patterns of drug use [21], treatment entry [24], and social support [25] have been identified. Women are typically younger, married, unemployed, and have an earlier onset age of heroin use [23].…”

“…It is becoming clear that treatment needs for men and women are not the same, which points to a demand for separate treatment strategies. The available studies on opioid addiction in the literature are often limited to men [26] or specific ethnic groups, focus on clinical profiles prior to or at treatment entry [16,19-22], or investigate methadone dose as a single outcome of treatment in association with other factors [27-30]. Sex differences have also been examined in opioid addiction patients treated with methadone in association with factors including prescription opioid use [31], drug use patterns [20], drug treatment utilization [32], psychiatric comorbidity [5,33], smoking outcomes [34], and quality of life [35]; however, little has been reported about differences in methadone treatment outcomes between men and women.…”

Methadone induces testosterone suppression in patients with opioid addiction

“…This trend has sparked interest in the sex-related aspects of the disorder. To date, sex differences have been reported in many aspects of opioid dependence and treatment45678910 leading to the need for separate addiction treatment profiles for men and women.…”

NGF gene polymorphisms are not associated with heroin dependence in a Taiwanese male population

“…In this study, we excluded female patients with HD to reduce clinical heterogeneity. Compared with male HD patients, female patients are younger and more likely to be unemployed, have family members using illicit drugs, and report a child‐raising burden, have a higher rate of mood disorders, and have an earlier onset of HD . Moreover, we selected a pure Han Chinese population to reduce genetic substructures in participants, and divided patient groups according to age at onset of HD.…”