Opioid Use Disorder in Women-Recording Presentation

Video Transcription

Video Summary

Dr. Amy Ewell welcomes viewers to a webinar titled "Opiate Use Disorder in Women," presented by the American Psychiatric Association on behalf of the SAMHSA-funded Provider Clinical Support System. Dr. Kathleen Brady, Vice President of Research at the Medical University of South Carolina, serves as the presenter for the webinar. The overarching goal of the webinar is to train healthcare professionals in evidence-based practices for the treatment of opioid use disorders, with a focus on prescribing medications and prevention and treatment of substance use disorders. <br /><br />Dr. Brady discusses gender differences in substance use disorders and opioid use disorders. Historically, men have had higher rates of alcohol use disorder, while women are more likely to have prescription drug use disorders. However, with the opioid epidemic, women have experienced significant increases in drug overdose deaths, as they are more likely to be prescribed opioids and be on them for longer periods of time. Dr. Brady also highlights the impact of gender on the neurobiology of opioid use disorder, such as higher rates of co-occurring psychiatric disorders in women and the impact of childhood adversity. <br /><br />The presentation emphasizes the need for effective treatments and addresses the challenges in accessing treatment due to stigma and resource limitations. Dr. Brady discusses gender-specific considerations in treatment, such as addressing trauma and co-occurring disorders, providing parenting support, and reducing barriers for women. She also explores the potential of adrenergic agents like clonidine and lofexidine in stress-related relapse prevention, particularly for women. The presentation concludes with a discussion on harm reduction strategies and the significance of engagement with specialty substance use disorder treatment for women. <br /><br />Overall, the webinar provides insights into the gender-specific aspects of opioid use disorder and highlights the importance of addressing these factors in treatment.

Keywords

Opiate Use Disorder in Women

American Psychiatric Association

SAMHSA-funded Provider Clinical Support System

evidence-based practices

gender differences in substance use disorders

opioid epidemic

neurobiology of opioid use disorder

accessing treatment

gender-specific considerations in treatment