Women at risk for infection: the woman who is chemically dependent

Chemical dependency is recognized as an important threat to women's physical and emotional well-being. The drug-seeking lifestyle, debilitating effects of drug use, and chosen method of administration place women who are chemically dependent at increased risk for a variety of infections and other physical and psychologic complications. The desire to obtain the drug of choice often overrules the desire to maintain self-protective and health-promoting activities. Health care professionals are challenged to provide education regarding the potential effects of chemical dependency, treatment opportunities, and self-protection strategies to assist women in making appropriate health-related decisions. Understanding chemical dependency from a women's health perspective promotes the development of innovative gender-specific prevention and intervention strategies. This article provides an overview of chemical dependency's unique risks and effects on women's health and explores strategies for providing relevant information to facilitate empowered decision making in this population.