Women’s Opiate Analgesic Abuse

“Women’s Opiate Analgesic Abuse,” presents and discusses women’s abuse of both licit and illicit opiate analgesics including, heroin (“Black Tar,” “H”) and commonly prescribed opiate analgesics, such as oxycodone (OxyContin®, “Hillbilly Heroin”) and fentanyl (Actiq®, “China White,” “Fen”). In the U.S. during the new millennium, women developed innumerable patterns of opiate analgesic abuse that closely rival, and in some cases, surpass, that of their male counterparts. The significant increase in the incidence of women’s opiate analgesic abuse continues with the use of higher dosages of the opiate analgesics, more severe physical and psychological dependence, and deadly overdosages. Also increasing is the incidence of neonatal addiction associated with maternal opiate analgesic abuse during pregnancy, which is characterized by the neonatal withdrawal syndrome, or neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). The pharmacology of the opiate analgesics (e.g., desired effects; methods of use; mechanisms of action; and undesired, or harmful, effects and toxicities) are addressed with attention to women’s medical and personal abuse.