According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 108,000 people died from drug overdoses in 2022, 76% of which involved opioids. However, there is limited research on the risk factors for overdose, particularly among women, who may face different challenges than men.

“Women who use drugs face a lot of stigma because many of them are also mothers. This stigma can prevent women from accessing harm reduction programs and drug treatment,” says Abenaa Jones, Ann Atherton Hertzler Early Career Professor of Health and Human Development, assistant professor of human development and family studies, and lead author of the paper.

Women who use drugs and are involved in the criminal justice system are particularly at risk, the researchers said. Not only are they at high risk of overdose immediately after release, but involvement in the criminal justice system also presents longer-term challenges to their recovery.

“These stigmas and barriers can make it difficult to obtain the kind of ‘rebuilding capital’ that is so important to sustain recovery,” said Kristina Brant, assistant professor of rural sociology and co-author of the study. “To promote well-being, it is imperative to find unique ways to support this group that faces so many overlapping vulnerabilities.”

The researchers conducted in-depth interviews with 20 women with opioid use disorder and a history of criminal justice involvement, 12 substance use disorder treatment professionals, and 10 law enforcement professionals who have worked with women with opioid use disorder. All of these individuals lived in Pennsylvania.

The interviews explored the women’s personal experiences with overdose, their use or knowledge of overdose prevention techniques and the barriers they face in accessing or using these techniques, as well as the experiences of professionals in dealing with women with opioid use disorder. In these conversations, the researchers also analyzed the challenges pregnant women and mothers face in seeking treatment. They detailed these findings in an article published earlier this year.