Female drug users face unique, serious health effects: researcher

From EndCanadianPoverty.ca

• Date: February 12th, 2009
• Source: CBC News
• Link to article: Female drug users face unique, serious health effects: researcher

"Girls and women who are heavy substance users face serious long-term health effects unique to women, a B.C.-based researcher told Yukon front-line workers Wednesday.

Nancy Poole, a research associate with the B.C. Centre of Excellence for Women's Health, said it's important that everyone — from transition home counsellors to physicians — understand how women's bodies react differently than men's when it comes to substance abuse.

"They have more serious health impacts, like the development of alcohol-related diseases like cirrhosis or liver disease in general," Poole told CBC News in an interview.

Poole spoke to more than 80 front-line service providers with Yukon First Nations, transition homes, RCMP, government and other agencies at a Yukon government training workshop in Whitehorse, which runs through Thursday.

Poole added that women and girls develop addictions more quickly "and they die more frequently from substance use problems than do men."

Even young girls who drink a lot are likely to develop osteoporosis, she said.

As well, pregnant women should also consider the possible damage of substance abuse to their unborn baby, she added.

"Girls and women are really often showered with messages from the media that are quite unhealthy, about being thin, and about using substances, etc.," Poole said.

"Very often they're influenced to use both prescription drugs and drugs like methamphetamine or cocaine or stimulants of all kinds, even tobacco."

Poole said women are also more likely than men to have experienced violence in their lives.

"Young girls are much more likely to experience early childhood abuse, and that shows up in later substance use problems," she said.

Poole said it is important for front-line workers to be comfortable telling women and girls that they cannot keep up with men who use alcohol and drugs.

Poole said she hopes Yukon front-line workers attending this week's workshop will become compassionate and non-judgmental with women and girls they are trying to help."