Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep

Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep

Substance use disorders involve a pattern of using drugs more extensively than intended and continuing use despite harmful consequences. This includes legal substances like alcohol and nicotine, as well as illegal drugs. These disorders often involve both physical and psychological dependence, reflecting compulsive use of substances that significantly alter thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, contributing to a major public health issue.
Understanding the concepts of physical dependence,...

Drug Abuse and Addiction: Pharmacological Phenomena

Drug Abuse and Addiction: Pharmacological Phenomena

Drug dependence, abuse, and addiction are complex phenomena that can precipitate various abnormal states. Physical dependence refers to a state of pharmacological adaptation to a drug. This adaptation often results in tolerance—a reduced response to the drug after repeated administrations. When the drug use is abruptly stopped, withdrawal symptoms occur due to the body's need to readjust from the pharmacologically induced imbalance. However, tolerance and withdrawal symptoms do not necessarily...

Drug Dependence

Drug Dependence

Medications are typically administered to achieve therapeutic effects. Some drugs can modify an individual's mood and perception, frequently resulting in various enjoyable experiences. However, this can result in drug dependency, a condition marked by continuous drug use despite potential negative consequences. Drug dependency primarily falls into two categories: psychological and physical dependence. Psychological dependence occurs when the pleasurable feelings induced by the drug...

Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is a complex and severe eating disorder characterized by an intense fear of weight gain, an unrelenting pursuit of thinness, and a distorted body image. It often leads to dangerously low body weight relative to an individual's age and height. This disorder is marked by significant physical and psychological consequences, making it one of the most life-threatening psychiatric illnesses.
Symptoms and Physical Effects
Individuals with anorexia nervosa commonly exhibit extreme...

Stress and Mental Health

Stress and Mental Health

Chronic stress profoundly affects mental health, significantly influencing mood, behavior, and overall quality of life. Research closely links chronic stress with mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders. Ongoing exposure to stress can lead to physiological and psychological changes, initiating a cycle of emotional distress and maladaptive coping mechanisms.
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...

Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques IV

Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques IV

Stress often leads to unhealthy habits like smoking, excessive drinking, and overeating, which offer short-term relief but ultimately increase long-term health risks. These behaviors create a cycle that temporarily lowers stress levels but can result in severe long-term health consequences. Breaking these habits is essential to reduce the risk of chronic diseases and improve overall well-being. Three primary changes that support better health include quitting smoking, reducing alcohol intake,...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Understanding Substance Use Characteristics Among Individuals Across the Sexual Identity Spectrum.

The American journal of psychiatry·2026

Same author

Effects of the 2016 CDC opioid prescribing guideline: a scoping review.

BMJ open·2026

Same author

A Descriptive Stage 1b Pilot Study of Recovering Safety: A Women's Empowerment Group for Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence With Substance Use Disorders.

Journal of aggression, maltreatment & trauma·2026

Same author

Experiences of pregnant and postpartum people of color engaged in a randomized clinical trial of medication to treat opioid use disorder during pregnancy: A "Positive Outliers" analysis.

Journal of substance use and addiction treatment·2026

Same author

A Scoping Review of Interventions and Available Programs for Justice-Involved Women with Substance Use Disorders.

Current psychiatry reports·2026

Same author

Network and receptor architectures shape brain morphometry in addiction.

medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 13, 2026

Modeling Alcohol Consumption in Rodents Using Two-Bottle Choice Home Cage Drinking and Microstructural Analysis

Modeling Alcohol Consumption in Rodents Using Two-Bottle Choice Home Cage Drinking and Microstructural Analysis

Published on: November 8, 2024

Substance abuse in women.

Shelly F Greenfield¹, Sudie E Back, Katie Lawson

¹Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment Program, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 115 Mill Street, Belmont, MA 02478, USA.

The Psychiatric Clinics of North America

|April 14, 2010

Summary

Women with substance use disorders (SUDs) show similar treatment outcomes to men, despite differing prevalence and disease progression. Gender-specific interventions show promise for improving outcomes in women with SUDs.

More Related Videos

Investigating Drivers of Antireward in Addiction Behavior with Anatomically Specific Single-Cell Gene Expression Methods

Investigating Drivers of Antireward in Addiction Behavior with Anatomically Specific Single-Cell Gene Expression Methods

Published on: August 4, 2022

Chronic Intermittent Ethanol Vapor Exposure Paired with Two-Bottle Choice to Model Alcohol Use Disorder

Chronic Intermittent Ethanol Vapor Exposure Paired with Two-Bottle Choice to Model Alcohol Use Disorder

Published on: June 23, 2023

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 13, 2026

Modeling Alcohol Consumption in Rodents Using Two-Bottle Choice Home Cage Drinking and Microstructural Analysis

Modeling Alcohol Consumption in Rodents Using Two-Bottle Choice Home Cage Drinking and Microstructural Analysis

Published on: November 8, 2024

Investigating Drivers of Antireward in Addiction Behavior with Anatomically Specific Single-Cell Gene Expression Methods

Investigating Drivers of Antireward in Addiction Behavior with Anatomically Specific Single-Cell Gene Expression Methods

Published on: August 4, 2022

Chronic Intermittent Ethanol Vapor Exposure Paired with Two-Bottle Choice to Model Alcohol Use Disorder

Chronic Intermittent Ethanol Vapor Exposure Paired with Two-Bottle Choice to Model Alcohol Use Disorder

Published on: June 23, 2023

Area of Science:

Addiction Medicine
Neurobiology
Psychiatry

Background:

Gender differences in substance use disorders (SUDs) and treatment outcomes are a significant area of research.
Recent trends show a convergence in male/female prevalence ratios for SUDs.
Factors like hormonal influences, stress reactivity, and co-occurring disorders impact women's SUDs.

Purpose of the Study:

To review gender differences in SUD epidemiology and treatment outcomes for women.
To examine the influence of biological and psychosocial factors on women's SUDs.
To assess the effectiveness of gender-specific treatments for women with SUDs.

Main Methods:

Review of recent epidemiological data on SUD prevalence across genders.
Analysis of research on neuroactive gonadal steroid hormones, stress reactivity, and relapse.
Examination of the role of co-occurring disorders (mood, anxiety, eating, PTSD) in women.
Evaluation of treatment outcomes for various substances (alcohol, stimulants, opioids, cannabis, nicotine).

Main Results:

Prevalence ratios of SUDs between males and females have converged over the past 20 years.
Women's SUDs may have a telescoping course, influenced by hormones and stress reactivity.
Once in treatment, gender is not a predictor of retention, completion, or outcome.
Gender-specific treatments and behavioral couples therapy show positive results for women.

Conclusions:

While women may enter treatment less frequently, their outcomes are comparable to men once engaged.
Understanding gender-specific factors is crucial for effective SUD treatment in women.
Targeted interventions, including gender-specific and couples-based approaches, offer promising avenues for improving treatment success in women.