Substance abuse

Abstract

Recent research has shown that women and men differ in substance abuse etiology, disease progression, and access to treatment for substance abuse. This is particularly important given the recent changes in alcohol and drug use among young women. There is a trend among boys and girls aged 12-17 years toward comparable rates of use and initiation for alcohol, cocaine, heroin, and tobacco (Greenfield et al. 2003). If this trend continues, over time there may be a narrowing of the male-to-female prevalence ratios of substance abuse in the older age groups. © 2010 Springer-Verlag New York.