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| ANALGESICS AND GENDER - RELEVANCE FOR DRUG ABUSE Jack H. Mendelson, M.D., Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Co-Director, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Research Center, McLean Hospital and Nancy K. Mello, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology, Harvard Medical School, Co-Director, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Research Center, McLean Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts During the early years of the twentieth century prescription and use of opiates such as laudanum was more frequent for pain relief by women than men. However, self-administration of cocaine (currently a Schedule 2 analgesic) was significantly greater for men. Analgesics which are now prescribed by medical professionals may have unique gender-related physiologic concomitants and subsequent risk for drug abuse problems. Our presentation will highlight pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, neuroendocrine and cytokine parameters which may be different for men and women. Discussion of these issues will also include gender relevant factors for treatment of alcohol and drug abuse disorders with new pharmacotherapies (e.g., naltrexone) which modulate the endogenous opioid system and neuroendocrine function.
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