Women
and Substance Use
List
of all reports on women
Pregnancy,
2005: Detailed Tables (PDF format), go to tables 7.68 - 7.75)
Pregnancy,
2004: Detailed Tables (HTML format)
Pregnancy, 2002: Detailed Tables (PDF format, Go to tables 7.54
- 7.61)
Women,
pregnancy, & related issues highlights:
Misuse
of prescription drugs
by pregnancy status (chapter)
Table
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Reports & Chapters on Women
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Highlights
of Short Reports on Prevalence |
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The
NSDUH Report: Alcohol Use among Pregnant Women and Recent Mothers:
2002 to 2007 Data
from SAMHSA's National Surveys on Drug Use & Health conducted in
2002 through 2007 were used to compare alcohol drinking rates, frequency,
and quantity among women aged 15 to 44 divided into three groups: (1)
pregnant, (2) recent mother (i.e., had a child within the past 12 months),
and (3) all other women in this age group. A stable pattern of
drinking was found for all three groups during 2002 to 2007.
Combined
data from SAMHSA's 2006-2007 National Surveys on Drug Use & Health
examined drinking patterns among women aged 15 to 44. Pregnant women
(11.6%) were significantly less likely to have used alcohol in
the past month than recent mothers (42.1%) or all other women (54.0%).
Among current alcohol drinkers, both pregnant women and recent mothers
drank alcohol on fewer days than other women (4.9 days for pregnant
women, 4.4 days for recent mothers, and 6.1 days for all other women).
Pregnant and recent mothers also drank fewer drinks on their drinking
days (2.4 drinks for pregnant women, 2.5 drinks for recent mothers,
and 3.0 drinks for all other women).
Of
concern is the fact that pregnant women aged 15 to 17 were more likely
to drink alcohol in the past month than pregnant women in other age
groups and they were likely to consume over 3 drinks on the days they
drank.
- The
NSDUH Report:
Cigarette Use among Pregnant Women and Recent Mothers Combined
data from SAMHSA's 2002 to 2005 National Surveys of Drug Use and Health
were examined to compare rates of past month cigarette use among women
aged 15 to 44 by pregnancy status and demographic characteristics. Regardless
of pregnancy status, white women were more likely to smoke cigarettes
in the past month of the survey than Black or Hispanic women. Pregnant
women (17.3%) and recent mothers (23.8%) were less likely to be current
cigarette smokers (smoked in past month) than women who were not recent
mothers (30.6%). Pregnant women who were current cigarette
smokers were more likely to report smoking cigarettes during their first
trimester (22.9%) than second trimester (14.3%) or third trimester of
pregnancy (15.3%). Younger pregnant women were more likely
than their oldest counterparts to smoke cigarettes during their pregnancy:
24.3% of pregnant women aged 15-17 and 27.1% of pregnant women aged
18-25 compared with 10.6% of pregnant women aged 26-44 smoked cigarettes
during their pregnancy in the past month of the survey.
- The
NSDUH Report: Substance Use During Pregnancy: 2002 and 2003 Update
Annual averages based on SAMHSA's National Survey on Drug Use
& Health conducted in 2002 and 2003 found that women aged 15 to
44 who were currently pregnant were less likely to currently use an
illicit drug, smoke cigarettes, or drink alcohol then either recent
mothers or nonpregnant women in this age group. Pregnant women
aged 15 to 25 were more likely to have smoked cigarettes in the past
month and to have used an illicit drug during the past month than pregnant
women aged 26 to 44. Among pregnant women aged 15 to 44, 9.8% reported
drinking alcohol during the past month, 4.1% reported binge alcohol
use, and less than 1% reported heavy alcohol use.
- The
NSDUH Report: Gender Differences in Substance Dependence and
Abuse Based on SAMHSA's 2003 National Survey on
Drug Use & Health, males were more likely than females to be dependent
on or abusing alcohol or an illicit drug except among the youth aged
12 to 17 where the rates of dependence or abuse were the same (9%) for
both males and females. The rate of substance dependence or abuse for
those age 50 or older was 4.9% for males and 1.5% for females. Among
the age group most likely to use alcohol or illicit drugs (aged 18 to
49) and who were employed full time, the rate of substance dependence
or abuse was 15% for males and 8% for females. Among the unemployed,
the rate was 23% for males and 12.5% for females. By marital status
among those aged 18 to 49: the rate of substance dependence or abuse
for those who were married was 10% for males and 4% for females. The
rate of substance dependence or abuse among the divorced or separated
was 23% for males and 11% for females. Among those never married, the
rate of substance dependence or abuse was 24% for males and 16% for
females. Among those living with one or more children, the rate of substance
dependence or abuse was 11% for males and 5.5% for females.
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The NSDUH Report: Marital
Status and Substance Use Among Women   Based
on SAMHSA's 2002 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, among women
aged 21 to 49, married women were less likely to have used tobacco,
engaged in binge alcohol use, or used an illicit drug in the past month
compared with women who were divorced or separated, never married, or
living with an unmarried partner. Among married women, those with children
younger than 18 living in the home were less likely to have used tobacco,
engaged in binge alcohol use, or used any illicit drug in the past month
than those with no child living in the home. Past month tobacco and
illicit drug use were higher among women living with an unmarried partner
than among women from other marital status groups.
- The
NSDUH Report: Pregnancy and Substance Use   In
2002, 3 percent of pregnant women aged 15 to 44 used illicit drugs in
the past month, 3 percent reported binge alcohol use, and 17 percent
reported smoking cigarettes in the past month. Among pregnant women
aged 15 to 44, whites were more likely to have smoked cigarettes in
the past month than blacks or Hispanics.
- The
NHSDA Report: Risk of Suicide Among Hispanic Females Aged
12 to 17   In 2000, Hispanic females aged
12 to 17 were at higher risk for suicide than other youths. Only
32 percent of Hispanic female youths at risk for suicide during the
past year, however, received mental health treatment during this same
time period. Hispanic female youths born in the United States
were at higher risk than Hispanic female youths born outside the United
States. But rates of suicide risk were similar among Hispanic
female youths across regions and ethnic subgroups (e.g., Mexican, Puerto
Rican, Central or South American and Cuban).
- The
NHSDA Report: Pregnancy and Illicit Drug Use   In
1999, about four percent of the pregnant women and eight percent of
women who were not pregnant used an illicit drug in the past month.
Illicit drug-using women, regardless of pregnancy status, were more
likely to use marijuana than any other drug.
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Highlights
of Short Reports on Pregnant Women |
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The
NSDUH Report: Alcohol Use among Pregnant Women and Recent Mothers:
2002 to 2007 Data
from SAMHSA's National Surveys on Drug Use & Health conducted in
2002 through 2007 were used to compare alcohol drinking rates, frequency,
and quantity among women aged 15 to 44 divided into three groups: (1)
pregnant, (2) recent mother (i.e., had a child within the past 12 months),
and (3) all other women in this age group. A stable pattern of
drinking was found for all three groups during 2002 to 2007.
Combined
data from SAMHSA's 2006-2007 National Surveys on Drug Use & Health
examined drinking patterns among women aged 15 to 44. Pregnant women
(11.6%) were significantly less likely to have used alcohol in
the past month than recent mothers (42.1%) or all other women (54.0%).
Among current alcohol drinkers, both pregnant women and recent mothers
drank alcohol on fewer days than other women (4.9 days for pregnant
women, 4.4 days for recent mothers, and 6.1 days for all other women).
Pregnant and recent mothers also drank fewer drinks on their drinking
days (2.4 drinks for pregnant women, 2.5 drinks for recent mothers,
and 3.0 drinks for all other women).
Of
concern is the fact that pregnant women aged 15 to 17 were more likely
to drink alcohol in the past month than pregnant women in other age
groups and they were likely to consume over 3 drinks on the days they
drank.
-
The
NSDUH Report:
Cigarette Use among Pregnant Women and Recent Mothers Combined
data from SAMHSA's 2002 to 2005 National Surveys of Drug Use and Health
were examined to compare rates of past month cigarette use among women
aged 15 to 44 by pregnancy status and demographic characteristics. Regardless
of pregnancy status, white women were more likely to smoke cigarettes
in the past month of the survey than Black or Hispanic women. Pregnant
women (17.3%) and recent mothers (23.8%) were less likely to be current
cigarette smokers (smoked in past month) than women who were not recent
mothers (30.6%). Pregnant women who were current cigarette
smokers were more likely to report smoking cigarettes during their first
trimester (22.9%) than second trimester (14.3%) or third trimester of
pregnancy (15.3%). Younger pregnant women were more likely
than their oldest counterparts to smoke cigarettes during their pregnancy:
24.3% of pregnant women aged 15-17 and 27.1% of pregnant women aged
18-25 compared with 10.6% of pregnant women aged 26-44 smoked cigarettes
during their pregnancy in the past month of the survey.
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The NSDUH Report: Substance
Use During Pregnancy: 2002 and 2003 Update Annual
averages based on SAMHSA's National Survey on Drug Use & Health
conducted in 2002 and 2003 found that women aged 15 to 44 who were currently
pregnant were less likely to currently use an illicit drug, smoke cigarettes,
or drink alcohol then either recent mothers or nonpregnant women in
this age group. Pregnant
women aged 15 to 25 were more likely to have smoked cigarettes in the
past month and to have used an illicit drug during the past month than
pregnant women aged 26 to 44. Among pregnant women aged 15 to 44, 9.8%
reported drinking alcohol during the past month, 4.1% reported binge
alcohol use, and less than 1% reported heavy alcohol use.
- The
DASIS Report: Pregnant Women in Substance Abuse Treatment: 2002   In
2002, of the 363,000 treatment admissions of women of usual childbearing
age (aged 15 to 44 years) for which pregnancy status was recorded in
SAMHSA's Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS), 4% were known to be pregnant
when admitted. Compared to nonpregnant admissions, pregnant women aged
15 to 44 entering treatment were more likely to report cocaine/crack
(22% vs. 17%), amphetamine/methamphetamine (21% vs. 13%), or marijuana
(17% vs. 13%) as their primary substance of abuse and less likely to
report alcohol (18% vs. 31%).
- The
NSDUH Report: Pregnancy and Substance Use
  In 2002, 3 percent of pregnant women aged 15 to 44
used illicit drugs in the past month, 3 percent reported binge alcohol
use, and 17 percent reported smoking cigarettes in the past month.
Among pregnant women aged 15 to 44, whites were more likely to have
smoked cigarettes in the past month than blacks or Hispanics.
- The
NHSDA Report:
Pregnancy and Illicit Drug Use In
1999, about four percent of the pregnant women and eight percent of
women who were not pregnant used an illicit drug in the past month.
Illicit drug-using women, regardless of pregnancy status, were more
likely to use marijuana than any other drug.
- The
DASIS Report: Pregnant Women in Substance Abuse Treatment In
1999, pregnant women aged 15 to 44 were more likely to enter treatment
for cocaine abuse than nonpregnant women of the same age group.
Between 1995 and 1999, the source of referral to substance abuse treatment
changed for pregnant women: Criminal Justice Referrals increased
and referrals by Self/Individual or Health Care Providers decreased.
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Highlights
of Short Reports on Treatment and Women |
- The
NSDUH Report:
Substance Use Treatment among Women of Childrearing Age
Combined data from SAMHSA's National Surveys on Drug Use & Health
conducted from 2004 to 2006 indicate that an annual average of 6.3 million
women (9.4%) aged 18 to 49 needed treatment for a substance use problem.
Of the women aged 18 to 49 who met criteria for needing substance use
treatment in the past year, 84.2% neither received it nor perceived
the need for substance use treatment. Only 5.5% of women in this age
group had a perceived unmet treatment need (i.e., did not receive substance
use treatment even though they thought they needed it).
The reasons for not receiving substance use treatment among the women
with an unmet treatment need were as follows: 36.1% were not ready to
stop using alcohol or illicit drugs, 34.4% could not cover their treatment
costs because of no or inadequate health insurance coverage, and 28.9%
did not seek substance use treatment because of social stigma.
- The
DASIS Report:
Hispanic Female Admissions in Substance Abuse Treatment, 2005
Female
Hispanic admissions comprise about 10% (61,000 admissions) of the female
substance abuse treatment admissions reported to SAMHSA's 2005 Treatment
Episode Data Set (TEDS). Among female Hispanic admissions in TEDS, 41%
were of Mexican origin, 24% were Puerto Rican, 4% were Cuban, and 31%
were of other Hispanic origin. Hispanic female admissions were less
likely than nonHispanic female substance abuse treatment admissions
to report alcohol as their primary drug of abuse (23% vs. 32%). Hispanic
female admissions were more likely than nonHispanic female admissions
to substance abuse treatment to report stimulants as their primary drug
of abuse (21% vs. 12%). The primary drug of abuse differed among the
Hispanic origin groups of female admissions: Puerto Ricans (43%) and
Cubans (29%) were more likely to report opiates, Mexicans (35%) were
more likely to report stimulants, and other Hispanic origins (23%) were
more likely to report alcohol as their primary drug of abuse. The average
age at admission also varied among the Hispanic groups of female admissions
in SAMHSA's Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS).
- The
DASIS Report: A Comparison of Female and Male Treatment Admissions:
2002   In
2002, based on SAMHSA's Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS), females accounted
for 30% of substance abuse treatment admissions. The average age at
substance abuse treatment admission for female admissions was slightly
younger than male admissions (33.3 vs. 34.2 years). Female admissions
were more likely than male admissions to be in treatment for opiates
or cocaine and less likely to be substance abuse treatment for alcohol
or marijuana. The expected source of payment for treatment for female
admissions was equally distributed (about 25% each) between self-payment,
Medicaid/Medicare, and other government payments. In contrast, the expected
source of payment for treatment for male admissions was most frequently
self-payment (34%) or other government payments (28%).
- The
DASIS Report: Characteristics of Primary Prescription and Over-the-Counter
Treatment Admissions, 2002   Prescription
and over the counter (OTC) drugs were the primary substances of abuse
for 4% of the 1.9 million treatment admissions reported to SAMHSA's
Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS) in 2002. An additional 100,000
admissions in 2002 listed prescription or OTC drugs as their secondary
or tertiary substances of abuse upon treatment admission. Females comprised
a larger proportion of prescription and OTC drug admissions (46%) than
they comprised among treatment admissions for all substances (30%) in
2002.
- The
DASIS Report: Characteristics of Homeless Female Admissions
to Substance Abuse Treatment, 2002 Of
the admissions for whom living arrangement were recorded in SAMHSA's
Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS) in 2002, 13% (171,400) were homeless
at the time of admission. Females comprised 20% of the homeless admissions.
Compared with all female admissions, the service setting for women who
were homeless at time of substance abuse treatment admission was more
likely to be detoxification (42% vs. 19%) or residential/rehabilitation
(26% vs. 18%) and less likely to be ambulatory settings (32% vs. 63%).
Homeless female admissions were more likely than all female admissions
to report cocaine/crack (24% vs. 17%) or heroin (21% vs. 16%) as their
primary substance of abuse.
- The
DASIS Report: Pregnant Women in Substance Abuse Treatment: 2002   In
2002, of the 363,000 treatment admissions of women of usual childbearing
age (aged 15 to 44 years) for which pregnancy status was recorded in
SAMHSA's Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS), 4% were known to be pregnant
when admitted. Compared to nonpregnant admissions, pregnant women aged
15 to 44 entering treatment were more likely to report cocaine/crack
(22% vs. 17%), amphetamine/methamphetamine (21% vs. 13%), or marijuana
(17% vs. 13%) as their primary substance of abuse and less likely to
report alcohol (18% vs. 31%).
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The DASIS Report: Marital
Status of Women Aged 25-44: 2002 in
substance abuse treatment. In
2002, the proportion of female admissions between the ages of 25 and
44 to SAMHSA's Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS) who were currently
married was less than in the general population. About 40% of the female
admissions were self and individual referrals to treatment and about
25% were referred by the criminal justice system. Cocaine and opiates
were reported as the primary substance of abuse more frequently by female
admissions who had never been married and alcohol was reported more
frequently by those who had ever been married.
- The
DASIS Report: Women in Treatment for Smoked Cocaine: 2000   Based
on SAMHSA's Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS), the number of adult women
admissions (age 18 and older) to substance abuse treatment for primary
use of smoked cocaine (crack) peaked in 1994. Between 1994 and
2000, both the total number of such admissions and the number of first-time
admissions declined. In 2000, 14 percent of all adult female
admissions to substance abuse treatment were for the primary use of
crack cocaine. The average length of crack use was 12 years prior
to admission.
- The
DASIS Report: Facilities Offering Special Programs or Services
for Women Of
the substance abuse treatment facilities providing programs or services
for women, 63 percent reported providing programs for women only, 56
percent reported services addressing domestic violence, 34 percent provided
programs for pregnant or postpartum women, and 16 percent offered on-site
child care services.
- The
DASIS Report: Pregnant Women in Substance Abuse Treatment
In 1999, pregnant women aged 15 to
44 were more likely to enter treatment for cocaine abuse than
nonpregnant women of the same age group. Between 1995 and 1999,
the source of referral to substance abuse treatment changed for pregnant
women: Criminal Justice Referrals increased and referrals by Self/Individual
or Health Care Providers decreased.
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The DASIS Report: How Men and Women Enter Substance Abuse Treatment
Women entered the substance
abuse treatment system through different avenues than men. Women
were less likely than men to be referred by the criminal justice system
and more likely to be referred by community, religious, or governmental
organizations/agencies providing social services or by self-help groups.
- The
DASIS Report: Women in Substance Treatment In
1998, there were 23 men admitted to treatment for every 10 women.
Women in substance abuse treatment were more likely to be in treatment
for "hard" drugs such as heroin and cocaine and less likely
to be in treatment for alcohol abuse or marijuana use.
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The DASIS Report: Women in Treatment for Smoked Cocaine In 1998, the average adult woman entering treatment for crack
cocaine was 34 years old and had first used crack when she was 24.
Over one-third of the adult women entering treatment for crack cocaine
abuse were white, five percent were Hispanic, and 61 percent were black.
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