The Utah Women & Leadership Project (UWLP) at Utah State University has released a significant research brief entitled “Substance Use Disorders Among Utah Women: A 2025 Update.” This report delves into the often-overlooked effects of substance use disorders (SUDs) on women in Utah and provides a comparative analysis with national trends, drawing on both state-specific and national data.
Scope of the Research
The investigation highlights three essential areas regarding substance use among women:
- Prevalence and Demographic Differences: The report examines how various demographics within Utah consume substances and how these trends compare nationally.
- Health, Pregnancy, and Trauma Intersections: It addresses the implications of substance use in the context of women’s health, particularly relating to pregnancy and trauma.
- Current Interventions and Programs: The research evaluates existing programs targeting substance use disorders throughout Utah.
Statistics on Substance Use Disorders
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, as of 2024, approximately 73.6 million Americans aged 12 and older reported using illicit drugs, which represents 25.5% of the U.S. population. However, only 19.3% of those with substance use disorders received any form of treatment.
In Utah, public substance use disorder services assisted 16,440 individuals in fiscal year 2024, with 37% being women. Methamphetamines (29.7%) and opioids (32.9%) were the most commonly reported primary substances among these women. While Utah has one of the lower rates of adult SUDs in the country, the state witnessed 591 overdose deaths in 2024, with fentanyl responsible for 43% and prescription opioids for 27% of these fatalities. Notably, men aged 35-44 faced the highest overdose fatalities, whereas women aged 45-54 were particularly vulnerable.
By mid-2024, Utah authorities seized over 774,000 fentanyl pills—a figure that had already exceeded the previous year’s total within just six months.
Understanding the Unique Risks for Women
Substance use disorders pose specific challenges for women, especially during pregnancy and the postpartum period. In 2024, 247 pregnant women entered public treatment programs, with alarming figures: 42% reported opioid use, 69% methamphetamine use, and nearly a third faced homelessness. The data shows that around 10% of infants in Utah were prenatally exposed to substances, primarily opioids; this indicates a 33% increase since 2010. Tragically, substance use disorders have become a leading cause of pregnancy-related deaths, with a significant number occurring postpartum and involving opioids.
Additionally, trauma plays a vital role in the risk of substance misuse. Women in Utah encounter higher-than-average incidents of sexual assault, domestic violence, and adverse childhood experiences, which collectively elevate the likelihood of developing substance use disorders. Therefore, implementing trauma-informed care and prevention strategies tailored for women is crucial for improving both individual and family outcomes.
Efforts to Mitigate Substance Use Disorders
In Utah, women’s participation in public substance use disorder treatment services stands at 37%, largely for opioids and methamphetamines. The Utah Department of Health and Human Services oversees a variety of statewide programs aimed at prevention, treatment, and recovery, benefiting more than 16,000 residents each year.
Counties in Utah have received over $56 million from opioid settlement funds, although only 14% has been utilized thus far. An additional $57 million, resulting from the Purdue Pharma settlement, is on its way to support ongoing initiatives.
Legislation has recently enhanced the state’s responses to the crisis by authorizing the distribution of fentanyl test strips (S.B. 086) and enabling pharmacists to provide naloxone without a prescription (H.B. 288). Despite opioids’ role in overdose fatalities—43% of all such deaths in Utah—experts note that methamphetamine and alcohol are also significant contributors to women’s treatment admissions. This underscores the need for comprehensive prevention strategies that address multiple substances.
A Call to Action
Tackling substance use disorders among women in Utah necessitates coordinated and gender-responsive approaches. Given the specific vulnerabilities stemming from pregnancy, trauma, and higher rates of prescription opioid use, targeted interventions are paramount. The economic and emotional toll of untreated substance use disorders on families and communities is considerable.
“Finding ways to prevent addiction and help women suffering from SUDs will not only improve the lives of individuals but also strengthen the positive impact of women in communities and the state,” stated Susan Madsen, UWLP founding director and co-author of the report.
Co-authors of the report include Rachel Denton, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker; Corinne Clarkson, a research associate for UWLP; Sarah Denton, a graduate research assistant; and Kolene Anderson, former associate director for UWLP.
The UWLP operates under the “A Bolder Way Forward” initiative, designed to empower Utahns to effect meaningful change across 18 focus areas. The project is affiliated with the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business and USU Extension.
