Substance Abuse in Girls

Substance use and abuse in girls encompasses using tobacco (primarily cigarettes), drinking alcohol, smoking marijuana, and using other illicit drugs. Although there is co-occurrence among the use of substances, with some similarity in causes and consequences, each substance is unique, with a unique developmental trajectory and a unique set of predictors. In general, boys engage in more binge drinking and use marijuana and other illicit drugs more frequently than girls (Johnston, O'Malley, & Bachman, 2002). Boys also report more problems (i.e., missed school or work) associated with substance use than girls (Johnston et al., 2002). In addition, although boys initiate alcohol and cigarette use at a younger age than girls, girls quickly catch up, so that use is similar in the late teens and young adulthood. Further, more girls use prescribed psychoactive substances than boys throughout adolescence (Johnston et al., 2000).