Women and Pregnancy

Abstract

High-Yield Review Points • Women who use substances may progress more quickly from first use to substance use disorder, may experience more intense withdrawal symptoms , and may respond differently to pharmacological treatments. • Women face greater barriers to entering drug treatment, including greater substance-use-related stigma, family responsibilities, fear of child protective services involvement, and a greater likelihood of comorbid mood and anxiety disorders. • Clinicians should adopt gender-responsive approaches when treating women who use substances, including motivational interviewing techniques , contingency management, community reinforcement approaches, and medication-assisted treatments (MATs) for those with opioid use disorders.