Introduction
Addiction to psychoactive substances is a chronic disease that affects the central nervous system and substantially harms health. Changes occur in the receptors due to the use of the substance, and thus, impulses report the need for further drug use (Ahmed et al., 2020). There are many determining reasons for substance addiction, including a person’s gender and ethnicity. For people of different backgrounds, the emergence and course of addiction vary. There are also differences in the reasons for substance use and the hospitalization features of patients of different ethnicities and genders.
Understanding the relationship between the various factors can be helpful in the process of implementing treatment regimens. At the same time, many population groups, especially minorities, are underrepresented in research (National Institute on Drug Abuse [NIDA], 2022a). Differences in male and female physiology also significantly influence the study of substance use disorder (SUD) (NIDA, 2022b). The current presentation considers the characteristics of substance abuse and addiction for three ethnic groups – white Americans, Hispanic Americans, and African Americans.
Types of Substances
Various types of substances are addictive and harmful to people. Experts distinguish such species as psychostimulants, opioids, hallucinogens, sedative-hypnotics, cannabinoids, and inhalants (Multani et al., 2022). Several features are characteristic of people exposed to substance addiction:
- The inability to resist taking the drug.
- Unexpected and unreasonable shifts in mood.
- Continued consumption despite the harm caused by the drug.
- The occurrence of severe withdrawal in case of inaccessibility of the drug for some time.
- Ignoring previous interests and lack of reaction to events and things that used to bring joy.
Opioids present the most significant threat because they affect the brain stem and hinder essential vital functions – breathing, sleep, or even heart work. Overdose, particularly with opioids, leads to terrible consequences, including even death. In addition to the different effects of exposure to diverse types of drugs, dependence is also determined by several related groups of factors.
Groups of Risk Factors
One can suggest the following risk factor groups for higher exposure to substances. Hereditary diseases, both physiological and psychological, can affect the degree of dependence in the future or the tendency to use substances in general. The occurrence of substance abuse disorders significantly depends on the socioeconomic factors of individuals. They include age, gender, regional demographics, wealth, citizenship, education level, marital status, and ethnicity, which will be discussed in more detail below.
Although it is difficult to predict what will cause the start of substance use, a person’s emotional, financial, or psychological state plays a significant role. Factors such as domestic violence, an unsatisfactory societal position, or recent traumatic events are also essential to consider (Ahmed et al., 2020).
Gender Specifics of Addiction Formation
Considering risk factors regarding substance addiction, it is worth noting the gender impact in the formation of this disease. The peculiarity of the metabolism influences the speed of addiction formation to drugs and is correlated with gender differences. Men have a more pronounced body resistance but are also prone to severe consequences of addiction. It has been experimentally proven that women become addicted to prohibited substances faster than men. However, men are twice as likely to suffer from substance use disorders. While for women, even minimal doses have a devastating effect on the body, only 1 in 5 people undergoing addiction treatment are women (Meyer et al., 2019).
It is essential to note that some contrasting social expectations and beliefs affect the likelihood of drug use. For instance, women are more likely to endure domestic violence (Meyer et al., 2019). Moreover, there are different reactions to the behavior of men and women, for example, in the case of alcohol consumption or when they are guardians of children.
Reasons for Drug Use
As mentioned earlier, socioeconomic factors have a significant role in drug addiction, but for each ethnic group, their degree of influence is different. Hispanic Americans suffer from stress due to the position of migrants, and this factor is critical for drug abuse (“Examining drug use,” 2022). Their situation leads to additional difficulties, for example, misunderstanding due to the language barrier. Moreover, Hispanic Americans are also exposed to discrimination and other challenges of moving to a new country.
The critical factor driving African-American drug consumption is the group’s negative representation in the media, where drugs are demonstrated as the norm (“Examining drug use,” 2022). This reason is also associated with discrimination and structural racism, which interfere with the well-being of African Americans. Many live in poor areas where drugs are more affordable but also harmful. Moreover, people in need of help often do not receive it.
White Americans have the highest rates of drug use due to various factors. Among the reasons that push to use the fight against anxiety and stress is highlighted. Moreover, drugs are often a way to protest against authorities. Finally, drug use is often presented in the media from a glamorous perspective, which spurs interest to try (“Examining drug use,” 2022).
Addiction Features
In addition to the differences in the factors that push various population groups to abuse drugs, there are also differences in the patterns of addiction development. Lewis et al. (2018) found that a faster achievement of milestones in the progression of addiction characterized white Americans. However, their dependence is weaker than that of other groups, such as African Americans. Moreover, the study found that socioeconomic factors play a significant role in achieving milestones (Lewis et al., 2018).
Among African Americans, addiction progression is not as fast as among white Americans. However, according to Lewis et al. (2018), their addiction is stronger and more challenging to cure. Moreover, this group has less access to treatment options, which again emphasizes the influence of socioeconomic factors. Hispanic Americans are characterized by a lower severity of substance abuse and a less deviant history of addiction than other groups (Eghaneyan et al., 2020). However, in some studies, Hispanics reported more significant withdrawal syndrome than other participants.
Substance Use Patterns
Belonging to a particular social group can be a factor in the development of substance addiction. Although drug addiction is present in different populations, some are more prone to it. Certain types of drug problems are more common among people with low incomes, while others are more common among those with higher incomes. It may mean that they have different use patterns, with lower-income groups using more substances but less often, and those with higher incomes using less but more often.
Although low socioeconomic status does not always increase the risk of substance abuse, excessive socioeconomic deprivation can provoke antisocial behavior. Therefore, an essential aspect of general prevention is the improvement of welfare in the country as a whole, as well as the corresponding social policy.
Importance of Various Factors
As noted earlier, substance use patterns differ among genders and ethnic groups. The difference in abuse models often lies not so much in biological differences but in sociological factors. For the proper treatment of representatives of different ethnic groups, it is necessary to determine the root causes of substance use. Thus, if some ethnicities are inclined to use drugs due to the criminal environment influence, others are pushed to this step by a difficult financial situation.
Regarding the latter, Black and Hispanic Americans are more likely to live in poor areas than Whites, which is one of the reasons these groups use substances more frequently (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2003). Notably, 2018 was the first year since 1999 when overdose deaths began to decrease (Cano, 2021). This trend was widespread, regardless of gender, but varied among different ethnic groups.
Overdose Statistics
It is critical to consider the drug abuse consequences for White Americans, Black Americans, and Hispanic Americans. In particular, according to the study conducted by Altekruse et al. (2020), among these groups, death from overdose for Hispanic Americans is 7.3% of cases. For Black Americans, the figure is 8.3%, while for White Americans, it is 80.7%. The same study examined the interdependence of gender and opioid overdose mortality. It was established that the mortality of women in these cases occurs in 39.5% of patients, and among men, respectively, 60.5%.
HIV/AIDS Statistics
Considering the consequences of drug use among different genders and ethnicities, it is worth noting the statistical differences in the number of HIV/AIDS diseases. Notably, while there is a smaller percentage of Black and Hispanic Americans in the American population, their share among AIDS patients is more than 50%. At the same time, women of different ethnicities are equally often infected with HIV from injecting substances. In contrast, White American men are infected less often than other ethnicities. It is also important to note that in cases of all genders and ethnicities, the leading cause of hospitalization for overdose is cocaine or its combination with alcohol (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2003).
Altekruse et al.’s (2020) study demonstrates the interdependence of socioeconomic status and opioid-related mortality. White American males are the most at-risk group among those examined, as they are the most prone to overdose on substances. It can be related to economic deprivation, which contributes to the formation of appropriate behavior patterns.
In contrast, it is logical to assume that Hispanic-American women are the lowest-risk group. This trend may be due to the unavailability of substances for specific population groups or adherence to traditional beliefs. This study’s results should be used to develop methods to prevent overdose and substance use.
Drug Policy Principles to Fight the Problem
It is crucial to fight the problem of drug addiction at all possible levels, in particular, to implement an effective drug policy at the state level. Among its principles, the following should be highlighted:
- Investing in health and public safety.
- Ensuring free access to necessary treatment.
- Ending the criminalization and deprivation of liberty of people who use drugs, since people with a substance use disorder are primarily patients, not criminals.
- Regulating and controlling the drug market (circulation of narcotic drugs) by the state (licensing, quotas, prescription release, age access, marketing).
- Implementation of behavioral therapy, including individual, family, or group counseling.
Rehabilitation Methods
Rehabilitation of drug addicts should take into account the factors described above and include:
- Working with psychologists and psychotherapy is a significant advantage of the rehabilitation program for substance addicts.
- The use of occupational therapy enables individuals with problematic body conditions to engage in valuable activities.
- Religious rehabilitation methods. However, as a rule, the religious factor tends to work with religious people, which is a significant obstacle in today’s society, where different views prevail.
- Rehabilitation considers all aspects of drug addiction, from psychological to physiological. It not only helps eliminate symptoms but also helps a person understand the reasons for its use.
Family support is also critical, as relatives provide care for dependent patients. Moreover, families supporting and participating in treatment contribute to the patient’s fast recovery (The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2022).
Conclusion
Substance addiction is a chronic disease that damages the central nervous system. Several root causes determine risk groups, including gender and ethnicity. Substance addiction generally substantially affects the female body, but men are more likely to suffer from disorders.
Statistically, among the three ethnic groups considered, White Americans are many times more likely to suffer from overdoses than Black and Hispanic Americans. At the same time, the development of dependence and the possibility of treatment differ significantly. Socioeconomic and genetic factors make groups vulnerable to varying degrees, which must be taken into account in treatment.
References
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