4. Clinical and Public Health Implications
The observation that androgens may contribute to sex differences in
opioid-mediated behaviors has a number of implications for personal and
public health. As reviewed above, significant sex differences are
apparent in both sensitivity to opioid analgesia and the risk for opioid
use disorder. The ability of androgens to amplify (or minimize) these
differences has not been sufficiently considered in clinical or public
health practice. The data reviewed above point to several possibilities
that might guide future decision making in these areas.