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A Gendered Analysis of Canadian Aboriginal Individuals Admitted to Inpatient Substance Abuse Detoxification: A Three‐Year Medical Chart Review
Author(s) -
Callaghan Russell C.,
Cull Randi,
Vettese Lisa C.,
Taylor Lawren
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the american journal on addictions
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.997
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1521-0391
pISSN - 1055-0496
DOI - 10.1080/10550490600860270
Subject(s) - detoxification (alternative medicine) , psychiatry , substance abuse , chart , substance use , medicine , psychology , alternative medicine , statistics , pathology , mathematics
This study examined gender differences within a sample of Canadian Aboriginal individuals admitted to an inpatient, hospital‐based substance abuse detoxification program. Even though alcohol was the most frequent primary drug of detoxification for both genders, women received proportionately higher rates of cocaine or opiate detoxification diagnoses. In addition to a younger age, females reported higher rates of physical and sexual abuse. Women were also administered antidepressants, antibiotic medication protocols, and more medical evaluation tests. It appears that Canadian Aboriginal women have a diverse set of psychological and medical needs. This study demonstrates the need for detoxification programs to address the substantial rates of intravenous drug use and the associated risk of infectious disease (eg, Hepatitis C, HIV) among this treatment‐seeking population.