Ovarian Hormones and Drug Abuse

Authors: Megan M MoranSanta Maria Julianne Flanagan Kathleen Brady

Publish Date: 2014/09/16

Volume: 16, Issue: 11, Pages: 511-

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Abstract

There are significant gender differences in course symptomology and treatment of substance use disorders In general data from clinical and preclinical studies of substance use disorders suggest that women are more vulnerable than men to the deleterious consequences of drug use at every phase of the addiction process In addition data from epidemiologic studies suggest that the gender gap in the prevalence of substance use is narrowing particularly among adolescence Therefore understanding the role of estrogen and progesterone in mediating responses to drugs of abuse is of critical importance to women’s health In this review we will discuss findings from clinical and preclinical studies of 1 reproductive cycle phase 2 endogenous ovarian hormones and 3 hormone replacement on responses to stimulants nicotine alcohol opioids and marijuana In addition we discuss data from recent studies that have advanced our understanding of the neurobiologic mechanisms that interact with estrogen and progesterone to mediate drugseeking behaviorMegan M MoranSanta Maria has received grants from NIH NIDA/ORWH CoI on P50 DA016511 Sex and Gender Factors Affecting Women’s Health and NIH/NICHD K12 HD055885 Recipient Impact of ovarian hormones on brain activity in cocainedependent women during exposure to psychosocial stress

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