In the feature "Need a Fix?" (January 2009), health journalist Roxanne Patel Shepelavy investigated the trend of painkiller abuse in fit women, and found that certain female hormones, such as progesterone, increase the likelihood of addiction in women, due to chemical interactions with the drugs. What's more, an increase in women's participation in endurance sports or "weekend warrior" recreational activities has led to a rise in sports-related injuries. The result of this trend, coupled with a "no pain, no gain" mindset: Women are taking analgesics at an unprecedented rate, contributing to the dramatic increase in both prescription and over-the-counter sales in the past 10 years.
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