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BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2015

Open Access 01-12-2015 | Research article

Substance use and related problems among U.S. women who identify as mostly heterosexual

Authors: Tonda L. Hughes, Sharon C. Wilsnack, Arlinda F. Kristjanson

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2015

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Abstract

Background

We used data from a nationally representative sample to compare substance use outcomes among adult women who identified as mostly heterosexual with those who identified as exclusively (only) heterosexual.

Method

We analyzed data from mostly heterosexual women and only heterosexual women in Wave 5 (2001) of the National Study of Health and Life Experiences of Women (weighted n = 1085).

Results

Mostly heterosexual women were significantly more likely than only heterosexual women to report every alcohol-related outcome included in our analyses except lifetime treatment. Odds of lifetime and past-year marijuana and cocaine use showed larger differences, with mostly heterosexual women nearly four times as likely as only heterosexual women to report lifetime cocaine use and five times as likely to report past-year use.

Conclusions

We recommend that researchers use measures of sexual identity that include more nuanced response options, and that health care providers learn about the existence, large numbers, and risk/protective factors associated with substance use patterns of mostly heterosexual women.
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Metadata
Title
Substance use and related problems among U.S. women who identify as mostly heterosexual
Authors
Tonda L. Hughes
Sharon C. Wilsnack
Arlinda F. Kristjanson
Publication date
01-12-2015
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2015
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-015-2143-1

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