The Profile of Drug-addicted Women

Authors
Mahnaz Jafarzadeh Klishomi
Robabeh Noury
Fatemeh Ramezanzadeh
Abstract
Introduction and Aims

The aim of this study was to evaluate the profile of drug-addicted women to set up programs to provide better service for this group.

Materials and Methods

In this qualitative study 65 drug-addicted women referring to Cheetgar and Shosh centers in different age groups, marital status and… were interviewed individually and semi-conductor questionnaire was provided. Sessions and interviews continued until data saturation.

Results

More than 68 percent of women stated that one of their family member was addict. The first disposable drug in more than 27 percent of participants was Methamphetamine and in close to 36 percent, the first motivation for beginning of drug abuse and the main was to forget the problems. Half of women were consuming drugs in smoking style and nearly 85 percent of women had a drugs withdrawal.

Conclusion

In general as some factors elevate the probability of drug-abuse in women, some reduce the risk of occurrence. Since the head points in women addiction are women treatment requirements (family and partner role) and multifactorial disorders (distemper, sorrow and stressors of accidents) paying special attention in treatment course is necessary.



* Corresponding Author: Department of Psychology, Kharazmi University, Tehran.

Email: Jafarzadeh.mahnaz34@gmail.com
Keywords
Women
Addiction
Profile of Drug Use
Bray TM, Ashley O. Women in Substance Abuse Treatment: Result from the Alcohol and Drug Services Study (ADSS). DHHS, Available from: URL: http://www.researchgate.net/publication/ 241444579_ Women in_ Substance_Abuse_Treatment_Results_from_the_Alcohol_and_Drug_Services_Study (ADSS)/, (Accessed: 2 July 2015).

Van Etten ML, Anthony JC, Comparative Epidemiology of Initial Drug Opportunities and Transitions to First Use: Marijuana, Cocaine, Hallucinogens and Heroin. Drug Alcohol Depend. 1999; 54(2): 117-25.

Zhang Z. Drug and Alcohol Use and Related Matters among Arrestees. Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring Program, Available from: URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/nij/adam/adam2003.pdf/, (Accessed: 2 July 2015).

Taylor BG, Fitzgerald N, Hunt D, Reardon JA, Brownstein HH. ADAM Preliminary 2000 Findings on Drug Use & Drug Markets: Adult Male Arrestees (2001). Washington, DC: U.S. Department Of Justice, Office of Justice Programs. Available from: URL: www.ncjrs.org/pdffiles1/nij/189101.pdf/, (Accessed: 2 July 2015).

Haas AL, Peters RH. Development of Substance Abuse Problems among Drug-Involved Offenders: Evidence for the Telescoping Effect. J Subst Abuse. 2000; 12(3): 241-53.

Rodriguez N, Griffin ML. Gender Differences in Drug Market Activities: A Comparative Analysis of Men and Women,s Participation in the Drug Market. U.S. Depaetment of Justice. Available from: URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/211974.pdf/, (Accessed: 4 July 2015).

Orwin R, Francisco L, Bernichon T. Effectiveness of Women’s Substance Abuse Treatment Programs:
A Meta-Analysis. Report Prepared Under Contract No. 270-97-7016 for the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. Fairfax, Va: Caliber Associates. 2001.

Barbara B, McDiarmid A. Gender-Responsive Supervision and Programming for
Women Offenders in the Community. In Topics in Community Corrections Annual Issue 2000: Responding to Women in the Community. Washington DC: U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Corrections. Available from: URL: http://nicic.org/pubs/2000/period180.pdf/, (Accessed: 4 July 2015).

Jennison KM, Johnson KA. Parental Alcoholism as a Risk Factor for DSM-IV Defined Alcohol Abuse and Dependence in American Women: The Protective Benefits of Dyadic Cohesion in Marital Communication. Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 2001; 27(2): 349-74.

Brady TM, Ashley OS. Women in Substance Abuse Treatment: Results from the Alcohol and Drug Services Study (ADSS). Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services. Available from: URL: http://www.researchgate.net/publication/241444579_Women_in_Substance_Abuse_Treatment_Results_from_the_Alcohol_and_Drug_Services_Study_(ADSS)/, (Accessed: 4 July 2015).

Jessup M. Addiction in Women: Prevalence, Profiles, and Meaning. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs. 1997; 26 (4): 449-58.

Agrawal A, Gardner CO, Prescott CA, Kendler KS. The Differential Impact of Risk Factors on Illicit Drug Involvement in Females. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2005; 40(6): 454-66.

Dawson DA, Grant BF, Chou SP, Stinson FS. The Impact of Partner Alcohol Problems on Women’s Physical and Mental Health. J Stud Alcohol Drugs. 2007; 68(1): 66-75.

Ullman SE, Filipas HH, Townsend SM, Starzynski LL. Trauma Exposure, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Problem Drinking in Sexual Assault Survivors. J Stud Alcohol. 2005; 66(5): 610-19.