In terms of opioid use, which gender has been found to have higher usage rates?

Research consistently shows that males have higher rates of opioid use compared to females. This trend can be attributed to several factors, including differences in pain perception, treatment-seeking behavior, and prevalence of certain medical conditions that may require opioid prescriptions. Men tend to engage in riskier behaviors and have a higher likelihood of being prescribed opioids for pain management, which can lead to increased usage rates. Additionally, societal attitudes towards drug use may differ by gender, further influencing these statistics. Overall, the data supports the conclusion that males are more likely to misuse and be prescribed opioids, reflecting broader patterns of substance use across genders.