Lack of Gender Differences in Lifetime Substance Use Reported Among African-American Urban Community College Students

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine whether there are significant gender differences concerning lifetime prevalence of substance use reported among a group of African-American urban community college students. Although gender differences have commonly been examined in studies of substance use and abuse, it appears that gender similarities may be more significant, including substance abusers and treatment. The interaction between gender and ethnicity is also more complex than generally acknowledged. Respondents completed sections of the Student Drinking Information Scale, the Family History of Alcoholism Scale, and the Khavari-Douglass Psychotropics Questionnaire. Lifetime prevalence was examined respectively for alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines, barbiturates, relaxants, and opiate drugs. The only substance category where a significant difference was observed between males and females was in reference to opiates. There was also no significant difference between the males and females in this sample with respect to reported family history of alcoholism. This general lack of observed gender difference in lifetime substance use suggests that addiction studies must more closely investigate this area of gender and ethnicity for more meaningful distinctions. This discussion will consider gender differences in substance use, gender differences and treatment, and interactions of gender and ethnicity and then will examine gender similarities with respect to substance use and abuse and, more specifically, gender similarities in substance abusers and treatment. Next follows an overview of methods, which includes procedures and instrumentation, the results of the study will be presented, and will be followed by a few concluding comments.