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Gender Differences in the Association Between Religion/Spirituality and Simultaneous Polysubstance Use (SPU)
Abenaa B Acheampong1, Sonam Lasopa2, Catherine W Striley2
1Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health and Health Professions and College of Medicine, University of Florida, 2004 Mowry Drive, PO Box 100231, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA. aacheamp@ufl.edu.
Religion and spirituality significantly reduce the risk of simultaneous polysubstance use (SPU) among prescription opioid users, with women showing greater protective effects even at medium spiritual levels.
Area of Science:
- Addiction research
- Sociology of religion
- Public health
Background:
- Religion/spirituality is a known protective factor against drug use.
- Limited research exists on gender differences in religion/spirituality's impact on simultaneous polysubstance use (SPU) among prescription opioid users.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine gender differences in the association between religion/spirituality and SPU in prescription opioid users.
- To identify demographic and behavioral predictors of SPU in men and women prescription opioid users.
Main Methods:
- Community-based study of 632 participants in the St. Louis area.
- Assessed non-medical prescription opioid use and simultaneous use of other substances (cocaine, alcohol, ecstasy, marijuana).
- Categorized religion/spirituality (high, medium, low) and used multivariate logistic regression to analyze associations.
Main Results:
- High religion/spirituality decreased SPU odds by 63% in men; medium/high levels decreased odds by 58-62% in women.
- Predictors of SPU in men included arrests and multiple sex partners; in women, arrests and never being married.
- African-American women had decreased odds of SPU.
Conclusions:
- Religion/spirituality is associated with lower odds of SPU among prescription opioid users.
- Significant gender differences exist, with women benefiting from even medium levels of religion/spirituality.
- Future interventions should consider the role of religion/spirituality in preventing SPU.
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