Since we all know that men are from Mars and women are from Venus, it seems ever so logical to claim that women respond to cocaine differently than men and as a result become addicted to cocaine more rapidly. The problem with this proposition is that no clear evidence of this phenomenon exists. And even if it did, what good would such a datum be to the cause of drug rehabilitation. How would it advance drug rehab in Georgia, for example, where I live and work? I can’t imagine any way that it would.
In the article I’ve attached below, please notice that studies cited were from research done on rats. Isn’t it about time, psychiatrists cast off their fixation on studying rats to try to predict human behavior? Come on. Where have these studies led us? I’ll tell you where…to adopt treatments that while perhaps seemingly innocuous to rats who after all we sacrifice in the name of medical advances, are barbaric when used on human subjects.
The treatments inevitably and invariable entail some form of powerful prescription drug which is intended to change the altered brain chemistry that researchers note on their studies on rats. Prescribing powerful, mind altering drugs to a drug addict is not only futile, it’s dangerous. Doctors don’t really fully know the long term ramifications of such drug use and addicts have enough problems kicking their drug habits. To add their doctor to the list of people pushing drugs on them is cruel.
What we observe with cocaine abuse is that both men and women easily become addicted to this stimulant which produces a sense of euphoria. And that both men and women respond poorly to the regular cocaine treatment delivered by traditional drug rehab programs and well to less commonly used approaches that treat cocaine addiction with detoxification and a thorough life skills training
Ultimately, the most important lesson for all of us is that cocaine addiction is horrible for the addict and for their family and friends. The best offence is a strong defense. We must understand the signs of cocaine abuse and do something for the people we love when we first suspect their abusing cocaine.
Fritz Alders
Managing Partner, Georgia Alliance
| Are Females More Prone to Cocaine Addiction?
by Dr. Simi Paknikar on March 18, 2011 at 5:01 PM |
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Cocaine is a drug of abuse that causes severe addiction. It can be smoked (this form is commonly called “crack”), snorted as well as injected directly into the blood. It stimulates the nervous system and produces euphoria.
The reinforcing effects of cocaine increase the desire for the drug and compel the addict to take the drug repeatedly to experience the highs that the drug causes. Addicts crave to use the drug and suffer from withdrawal symptoms if it is not available. Besides addiction, use of the injectable drug could also spread diseases like HIV and Hepatitis B.
Studies indicate that women may develop a stronger dependence to cocaine than men. They start using cocaine earlier and go through the stages of addiction faster. They also enter rehabilitation facilities earlier than men and experience shorter periods of abstinence from the drug. Females may also be more affected by the reinforcing effects of cocaine, i.e., they may desire to take it more often. The female hormone estrogen may be responsible for some of these effects.
In a recent publication, researchers conducted studies on rats to determine whether sex or personality traits could influence cocaine addiction. The personality trait tested here is the reaction to novelty. They found that at low doses, the female rats acquired cocaine faster than males and were more motivated to work harder in order to obtain more drugs. They also found that reaction to novelty affects the motivation to take cocaine.
Read more: Are Females More Prone to Cocaine Addiction? http://www.medindia.net/news/healthwatch/Are-Females-More-Prone-to-Cocaine-Addiction-82395-1.htm#ixzz1H0wWno3c
