Summary
This is hardly a proud distinction. The latest National Survey on Drug Use and Health says teenage girls are trying marijuana, alcohol and cigarettes at higher rates than boys -- a reversal of past trends.
Just so we're clear here, there's no upside to teenage boys' use of these substances, either. But this new trend suggests the Office of National Drug Control Policy may need to explore gender specific prevention and treatment strategies. Some experts believe girls are at risk for drug and alcohol abuse because they feel tremendous pressure to do well in school and to be physically attractive. Some girls take up smoking to keep their weight down. Others abuse drugs, alcohol and nicotine because they are masking the pain of sexual abuse. Still other girls drink, smoke pot and dabble in drugs because they are self-medicating for untreated or undiagnosed mental illness. This is not unique to young women, however.See the full content of this document
Extract
Girls' Drug Habits Alarming
But experts say substances such as nicotine and alcohol act differently in ...
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