Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Among Women

T patterns, consequences, and not differentiated by gender (Mello 1983; current problems with alcohol and illicit reasons that women abuse alco­ Mello et al. 1989; Lex 1987). drugs was unexpected. The higher propor­ hol and other drugs differ from tion of women than men in treatment for those of men. This article re­ illicit drug abuse also was surprising. views such male­female disparities by THE SCOPE OF ALCOHOL AND Women in treatment for alcoholism focusing on selected studies of alcohol, OTHER DRUG ABUSE frequently have been found to abuse one marijuana, cocaine, and opiate use among or more other drugs as well. Compared women. Given existing variations in the In general, men consume more alcohol or with their nonalcoholic peers, alcoholic research methods used in these studies, use illicit (i.e., illegal) drugs more than women in one study (Gomberg 1989) it is necessary to acknowledge certain do women. However, information about reported having used more cocaine (29 caveats when interpreting the findings. people in treatment for abuse of alcohol percent versus 16 percent), heroin (8 For example, definitions of terms such as and other drugs has shown that although percent versus 1.5 percent), or marijuana “heavy use” may shift over time; defini­ proportionately more men abuse alcohol, (53 percent versus 50 percent). The tions of terms such as “alcohol abuse,” a higher proportion of women abuse other youngest alcoholic women (ages 20 to 29) “alcoholism,” “drug use,” and “drug drugs (figure 1). In a survey of treatment typically reported using combinations of abuse” may differ from study to study.1 facilities, alcoholism was diagnosed in alcohol and illicit drugs, whereas the In addition, although men and women fewer women (38.2 percent) than men older alcoholic women (in their late thir­ may exhibit different profiles of alcohol (47.9 percent); other drug problems were and other drug use, studies often do not ties and forties) were more likely to use diagnosed in more women (36.4 percent) include issues pertinent to women, such than men (26.7 percent); and both alcohol alcohol along with medications, mainly as effects of these substances on the tranquilizers, prescribed by a physician. and other drug problems were diagnosed menstrual cycle or on pregnancy, when with the same frequency in women and Accordingly, issues of multiple substance they address issues important for men. men (25 percent) (Substance Abuse and More regrettably, in some cases, studies Mental Health Services Administration BARBARA W. LEX, PH.D., M.P.H., is an may include data that are obtained from [SAMHSA] 1993). Although it might associate professor in the Department both women and men, but the results are have been predicted that more men than of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, women would have alcohol problems, the Boston, and in the Alcohol and Drug 1In this article, these terms will be defined as they are finding that equal proportions of women Abuse Research Center of McLean in each of the studies discussed. and men have sought treatment for con­ Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts.