NCJ Number
172892
Date Published
1997
Length
200 pages
Annotation
This report shows trends in the prevalence and patterns of substance use and abuse among women in the United States.
Abstract
Based on data from the 1991-1993 and 1994-1995 National Household Surveys on Drug Abuse, the report describes traits of female substance users and abusers, and examines correlates (demographic characteristics, drug use histories, and psychosocial and behavioral characteristics) of women's substance use and abuse. It also explores substance use among women during pregnancy, parental abuse and children at risk, use of drug treatment services, characteristics of women who did not receive needed drug treatment, and involvement in criminal activities by female substance users. Key findings include: (1) Adult women who were divorced/separated or never married reported a significantly higher prevalence of any illicit drug use and problem drug use than adult women who were married; (2) Dropping out of school was correlated with substance use for adolescent boys, but not for adolescent girls; and (3) Compared to adolescent male drug users, adolescent female drug users reported significantly lower rates of criminal arrests, probation or parole, and criminal activities. Notes, tables, figures, references, appendixes