Headlines
As reported by The Hartford Courant, June 22, 2004.
Addiction Harder On Women, Study Says
By William Hathaway
Women suffer more psychiatric, medical and employment complications as a result of their addiction to drugs and alcohol than men, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Connecticut Health Center and Yale University School of Medicine.
The researchers interviewed 271 participants - 156 women and 115 men - at two drug treatment centers in Connecticut. They found that men and women tend to become addicted to drugs at the same age and the severity of their addiction is about the same.
But the women experienced more difficulties as a result of their addiction and sought treatment sooner than men, according to the study, which is reported by the current issue of Drug and Alcohol Dependence.
Women also appear to be using drugs at a younger age than in past generations, the authors said.
The findings "may also help to support more aggressive prevention efforts among women at risk and create gender-specific treatment for drug and alcohol dependence," said Dr. Carlos Hernandez-Avila, of UConn's Alcohol Research Center and lead author of the study.