Pubdate: Thu, 06 Feb 2003
Source: San Antonio Express-News (TX)
Section: Nation & World
Copyright: 2003 San Antonio Express-News
Contact:  http://www.mysanantonio.com/expressnews/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/384
Author: Devlin Barrett, Associated Press

ADDICTION REASONS DIFFER BY SEX

WASHINGTON - Girls and young women get hooked on cigarettes, alcohol and 
drugs more quickly and for different reasons than boys, and should receive 
specialized treatment reflecting that, according to a study released 
Wednesday. Teenage girls often begin smoking and drinking to relieve stress 
or alleviate depression, while boys do it for thrills or heightened social 
status, according to the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse 
at Columbia University. Girls "get hooked faster, they get hooked using 
lesser amounts of alcohol and drugs and cocaine, and they suffer the 
consequences faster and more severely," said Joseph Califano, chairman of 
the center.

Califano said prevention and treatment centers need to design their 
programs to deal with the risk factors leading to female substance abuse.

"With some exceptions, the substance abuse prevention programs have really 
been designed with a unisex, one-size-fits-both-sexes mentality," said 
Califano, who served as health and human services secretary under President 
Carter. "We now know that girls are different than boys. Let's recognize it 
and let's help them."

Florida first lady Columba Bush, whose daughter Noelle is struggling with 
substance abuse, said that if parents and educators understand girls are 
more vulnerable and need different treatments, "we can save millions of 
young girls and women from the agony of addiction."

Mrs. Bush is married to Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who's President Bush's brother.

The study, based on a nationwide survey of more than 1,200 females aged 8 
to 22, found about 45 percent of high school girls drink alcohol, compared 
with 49 percent of boys, and girls outpace boys in the use of prescription 
drugs, the study found.

Researchers determined girls also are more likely to abuse substances if 
they reached puberty early, had eating disorders or were ever physically or 
sexually abused.

Their likelihood of using cigarettes, alcohol or drugs also increases if 
their families move often or when girls advance from middle school to high 
school or from high school to college.

As they reach puberty and develop into teenagers, "girls are likelier than 
boys to compare themselves physically and academically to their new peers, 
increasing the doubts they feel about themselves," the study said.

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., said she would introduce legislation 
aimed at boosting public awareness of prescription drug abuse and forcing 
hospitals to better track the problem.
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