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Girls At Greater Risk for Addiction Than Boys
According to a study just released by The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University, girls and young women are more easily addicted to drugs and alcohol. They also have different reasons than boys for abusing substances and treatment may need to offer different approaches. Based on a nationwide survey of females age 8 to 22, the researchers found the gender gap is narrowing between boys and girls who smoke, drink and use drugs. Approximately 45 percent of high school girls drink alcohol, compared with 49 percent of boys, and girls outpace boys in the use of prescription drugs. Boys tend to experiment experiment with cigarettes, alcohol and drugs in a search for thrills or heightened social status, girls are motivated by a desire to reduce stress or alleviate depression, the study found.
Treatment methods often used in addiction therapy, such as confrontation may be the wrong approach for women, researchers found and female substance abusers who were victims of physical abuse may not respond well to a group with men. The study also sharply criticizes alcohol and tobacco companies for promoting their products by linking them to glamorous models, and calls for a ban on alcohol advertising on television and cigarette and alcohol advertising in magazines with large numbers of young readers.
CASA Report
Full CASA Study
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