Exploring Characteristic Parameters to Inform Continued Recovery Among Parenting Women With Opioid Use Disorder in a Residential Facility

Abstract

Introduction:

Relevant characteristics of women with opioid use disorder (OUD) can guide new treatment plans or improve old ones. Despite known challenges, understanding why some women remain engaged in treatment while others do not is unclear. Continued treatment improves recovery and reduces relapse risks. Integrating characteristic parameters such as attributes, behaviors, and patterns into treatment can potentially prevent relapse and overdose risks. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to assess characteristic parameters such as demographics, health behavior, health status, utilization, and drug use patterns to inform the continued recovery of parenting women.

Method:

This is a descriptive cross-sectional study to assess the characteristics of parenting women with OUD (n = 39) recruited from residential facilities in an original study to explore capital factors for sustained recovery. Data were collected through interviews from 2021 to 2022.

Results:

Women in the sample had a mean age of 35 years, were single, white, and had completed high school. Most women were unemployed, received public assistance, including Medicaid, smoked, and were not ready to quit. Approximately 50% reported good to excellent physical/mental health; 67% utilized primary care services compared to emergency departments/hospitals. Women reported drug use for 13.7 years; prescription opioid misuse at about 19 years, and marijuana as the first drug used, before opioids. On average, more women were on methadone than on buprenorphine medication.

Conclusion:

This study highlights the influence of key characteristic parameters, including age, smoking, health status, utilization, and drug use patterns, to inform gender-based treatment planning for continued recovery.