Substance Abuse in Older Women

Szwabo, Peggy A.

doi:10.1016/s0749-0690(18)30432-4

Cited by 28 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…The elderly across all drug categories are significantly less likely to use abusable drugs relative to those aged 35-64. This latter finding is of considerable interest, as a number of researchers have suggested that elderly people are particularly susceptible to exposure to psychotropic drugs in general 4,[17][18][19][20] and anxiolytics in particular. 8,11 Other studies, however, have shown either no such association between psychotropic drug use and advancing age 6 or that psychotropic drug use peaks at middle age and then declines subsequently.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…24 Selection of explanatory variables and covariates predicting abusable prescription drug use was guided by earlier studies [1][2][3][4]6,11 and from review literature. 7,14,20 The independent variable of interest is gender, with male as the reference category. Other demographic variables include race (nonwhite is reference), age groups 18-24, 25-34, and $ 65 (35-64 is reference), marital status (nonmarried is reference), geographic location (rural is reference), and education (less than high school education is reference).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[17][18][19] One study presents evidence suggesting that substance abuse, including abuse of prescription drugs, in older women is a growing problem, especially among impoverished and minority women. 20 Other studies suggest that female gender and age together increase the chance of receiving a prescription drug with abuse potential. 18,21 The purpose of this study is to examine gender differences in the use of abusable prescription drugs.…”

Section: Introduction Imentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Use of Abusable Prescription Drugs: The Role of Gender

Simoni¹

2000

Journal of Women's Health & Gender-Based Medicine

161

107

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It is well documented that women face greater medical exposure to psychotropic drugs than do men, but little research examines whether women also have increased use of prescription drugs with abuse potential. The objectives were to examine gender differences in the use of abusable prescription drugs and to assess how use varies by gender and if patterns of use vary across therapeutic drug classes. With data from the 1987 National Medical Expenditures Survey (NMES), logistic regression analysis is used to model the influence of gender and other sociodemographic and diagnostic variables on the probability of drug use. Women are 48% more likely than men to use any abusable prescription drug, controlling for demographics, health status, economic status, and diagnosis. Additional analyses reveal that being female is a statistically significant predictor of anxiolytic and narcotic analgesic use but not of sedative-hypnotic or stimulant use. Marital status, age, urbanicity, employment status, and having a regular source of care explain gender differences in the use of abusable prescription drugs. Both healthcare and substance abuse treatment providers should be cognizant that women may have greater exposure to these potent prescription medicines. 289

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introduction Imentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Use of Abusable Prescription Drugs: The Role of Gender

Simoni¹

2000

Journal of Women's Health & Gender-Based Medicine

161

107

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“…However in our study, we have not found a significant difference concerning women distribution between Adults and Seniors. According to Simoni-Wastila et al, older women have been found to be at greater risk for prescription drug abuse than older men (Simoni-Wastila, & Yang, 2006;Szwabo, 1993;Culberson & Ziska, 2008). Possible explanations for this finding include a higher rate of psychoactive drug use among older women than older men, psychoactive drug use associated with recent divorce and widowhood among older women, and men's preference for alcohol (Simoni-Wastila & Yang, 2006).…”

Section: Prescription Terms and Prescribed Medicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Benzodiazepines Consumption: Does Dependence Vary with Age?

Gérardin

Victorri-Vigneau

Guerlais

et al. 2014

Substance Use & Misuse

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We have compared two groups of chronic benzodiazepines (or zolpidem/zopiclone) users: "Seniors," aged 65 years or more, and "Adults," aged less than 65 years. The study took place in the Pays de Loire region. The questionnaire assesses dependence based on items from the DSM-IV. The analysis was based on 176 Senior questionnaires and 212 Adult questionnaires. Whereas Senior patients take benzodiazepines routinely with little negative consequences, Adults suffer from underlying psychological trouble, mention a higher consumption than planned, which causes negative consequences. 35.2% of Seniors are dependent on benzodiazepines versus 49.8% of Adults.

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“…Several population surveys have shown that women are overrepresented among individuals on long-term benzodiazepine (BZP) treatment and at least two studies in the elderly have identified female sex as an important risk factor for abuse of prescription drugs, including BZPs (Fingerhood 2000;Szwabo 1993). The basis for the increased use of BZPs among elderly women is not well understood and may involve sociocultural factors as well as sex differences in the prevalence of disorders for which BZPs are commonly prescribed.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%