Characteristics of Substance Abusing Men and Women Entering a Drug Treatment Program

Abstract

A survey research study was conducted to identify similarities and differences in substance abuse correlates among 306 men and women entering drug abuse treatment. Out of 111 variables, men differed from women in 26 variables (or 23%). Men were more likely to report alcohol, heroin, and marijuana use, and less likely to report cocaine and crack-cocaine use compared with women. However, men did not differ from women in patterns of childhood emotional and physical abuse and neglect. Implications for developing sex-specific interventions for both men and women are discussed.