Consideration of sex and gender differences in addiction medication response

Abstract

Highlights Substance use continues to contribute to significant morbidity and mortality in the United States. To reduce the public health burden attributable to substances, the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism have identified that medication development for substance use disorder is a high priority research area. We reviewed major classes of abused substances (nicotine, alcohol, cocaine, cannabis, opioids) demonstrating that, sex and gender have not been well-considered in addiction medication development research. When adequate data on sex and gender differences have been evaluated (i.e., in tobacco cessation), clinically significant differences in response have been identified between women and men. However, these data are not at all considered in clinical care guidelines. We recommend improved access to publicly available sex-stratified data from medication development investigations, to inform clinical practice and to improve treatment provided to women with substance use disorders.

Keywords

• Sex
• Gender
• Addiction
• Substance
• Medication development
• Nicotine