Illicit drug use by women with disabilities

As in the general female population, women with disabilities face a number of situations that encourage illicit drug use, such as low self-esteem, peer pressure, and family history of substance abuse. In addition, women with disabilities more frequently encounter problems of personal adjustment, unusual developmental experiences, easy access to prescription drugs, unemployment, and medical or health-related difficulties. Using a random sample of 900 women with disabilities, we conducted a study of the patterns of illicit drug use and risk factors relating to illicit drug use among women with various disabilities. Multiple regression analyses revealed that age, illicit drug use by a best friend, being a victim of substance-abuse-related violence, and attitudes toward substance use by people with disabilities were significantly related to illicit drug use by the study population. The implications of these findings are discussed.