International Journal of Advances In Case Reports

DRUG ADDICTION OF WOMEN

Iliadis Christos, Κοurkouta Lambrini, Koukourikos Konstantinos, Monios Alexandros, Tsaloglidou Areti*

aretitsa2010@hotmail.com

Causes of addiction, Female drug addiction, Substances use, Women.

The term “drugs” generally refers to substances with different chemical structure and different action on the Central Nervous System (CNS), from being stimulant until being sedative. Their common feature is the ability to alter the physical and mental state of the person and cause addiction, of different nature, mental or physical, of varying degree. The last decade the theoretical approach of the term has been increasingly introduced, according to which, each sex is involved in a different way from the other in drug use. It also follows a different path, from the beginning of use until the need of treatment. Women experience drug addiction in their own way and the causative factors that lead to this situation are totally different compared to men. This study provides a comprehensive review of the new evidence regarding women’ drug addiction, and the factors contributing to it. A review of the literature was performed through the electronic databases PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, Scientific journals in English and the Association of Greek Academic Libraries Link (HEAL-Link), using the following key words: causes of addiction, female drug addiction, substances use, women. The role of the family appears to be important in the field of women’ addiction. Women who have been sexually and / or physically abused when they were children, they are very likely to take drugs. The "choice" of drug dependence as a lifestyle by the females happens after the initiation of use, while the opposite is happening to males. The interactions with various sub-cultural groups can also affect, at least partially, the orientation and the views of young women regarding drugs. There are a large number of reasons for which a young woman can be drug addicted. She may consume various substances as a proof of unity, acceptance and comradeship from the members of a social or occupational group. The causes of the problem are deep into our "sick" society and affect all the aspects of our lives.