1	Women & Methamphetamine M.-L. Brecht UCLA Integrated Substance Abuse Programs
2	What’s the Problem? Meth “epidemic”--almost 2/3 of law enforcement agencies nationwide say Meth is the major drug problem Increasing Meth use by women, also posing risks for their children Impact on treatment & social service systems In LA County, more women seek treatment for Meth than for alcohol abuse or heroin or cocaine.
3	Meth Treatment Admissions--Women California 1992-2005
4	Acute Effects of Methamphetamine Confidence Alertness Mood Sex drive Energy Talkativeness Boredom Loneliness Timidity Heart rate Respiration Blood pressure Pupil size Sensory acuity Energy Appetite Sleep Reaction time
5	Longer Term Physical Effects Cardiac arrhythmia High blood pressure Seizures, stroke Respiratory problems Anorexia Tooth decay “Speed bumps”
6	Chronic Psychological/Cognitive Effects Paranoia Hallucinations Panic reactions Depression Psychosis Anger Irritability Insomnia Confusion Concentration problems Memory loss
7	MethNH Sample Characteristics (n=153 women) Ethnicity: Education: Avg. age at first interview 32 years
8	Women with Multiple Vulnerabilities Childhood: Parental divorce 67% Parental drug/alc problems 61% Sex abuse (before age 15) 44% (men 24%) Physical abuse (before 15) 34% Arrested (before 18) 28% (men 54%) Major mental illness 38% Attempted suicide 29% Sex for $ or drugs 15% Receiving welfare 68% (men 32%)
9	With Children at risk Pregnancy & fetal loss rates higher than national figures 88% of women have child(ren)--406 children total 33% report child(ren) with disabilities 75% have had child(ren) live with someone else
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11	Why Start Meth Use? Most Common Reasons Get energy Fun/get high/experiment Friends use Lose weight Stay awake
12	Treatment Outcomes: Good News? Bad News? Of 10 Meth-abusing women entering treatment,
13	Other Outcomes of Treatment: % of Months with MA Use, Crime, Employment Before, During, and After Treatment
14	Prenatal MA Exposure Smaller babies (similar to nicotine exposure) With implications for poorer neurodevelopment and future health problems Decreased arousal and regulation Increased stress
15	Prevalence of Substance Use During Pregnancy
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17	Challenge: to Break the Intergenerational Cycle
18	Examples, Strategies to Combat Effects of Meth for Women/Children Special priority/programs for pregnant substance abusers Case management for pregnant/parenting substance-abusing women Specialized treatment approaches for women & families Drug-endangered children initiative
19	Contact Info UCLA Integrated Substance Abuse Programs website: www.uclaisap.org Prototypes www.prototypes.org Mary-Lynn Brecht lbrecht@ucla.edu Matrix Institute www.matrixinstitute.org SAMHSA www.samhsa.gov National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children www.nationaldec.org Acknowledgements - Meth NH project staff, cooperating community treatment providers, study participants (funding from NIDA RO1-DA11020)