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Girls and Drugs: A New Analysis: Recent Trends, Risk Factors and Consequences

NCJ Number
213627
Date Published
February 2006
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This paper on drug use among adolescent girls provides data and information on prevalence rates, distinctive risk factors for drug abuse in adolescent girls, the consequences of drug use for girls, and parents' positive influence in countering girls' drug use.
Abstract
In 2004 more girls than boys started using alcohol (150,000 girls), cigarettes (1,500,000 girls), and marijuana (675,000 girls). Teen girls also surpassed boys in their misuse of prescription drugs. Teen girls are vulnerable to a number of distinctive physical, psychological, and social risk factors for drug and alcohol abuse according to recent studies. These factors include depression, anxiety, excessive concern about weight and appearance, risky sexual behavior, early puberty, psychiatric or conduct disorders, and physical or sexual abuse. Girls are particularly susceptible to peer pressure when it comes to abusive drinking. Some consequences of girls' drug use are impaired judgment that can lead to risky sexual behaviors, symptoms of depression, nicotine addiction, disrupted growth and puberty, and unwanted pregnancy. Parental disapproval of drug use plays a strong role in preventing and stopping girls' drug use. Also, when an adolescent girl is exposed to high levels of negative emotion from parents or other family members, the stress involved may impair her capacities for the responsible management of her behavior. An 18-item annotated reference list