GENDER DIFFERENCES IN PATTERNS OF COCAINE USE

Gender differences in characteristics of substance use disorders may h ave important implications. To explore this question, the authors comp ared 27 women and 60 men presenting for treatment of cocaine dependenc e with regard to demographic and cocaine use patterns. Women had earne d less in the previous year (P < 0.01) and were more likely to have be en unemployed (P < 0.05). Although women began using cocaine at a late r age than men, they attained regular cocaine use at the same age as m elt and had fewer years of total cocaine use at the time of presentati on for treatment (P < 0.001). Women were more likely to initiate cocai ne use with crack cocaine (P < 0.01) and reported shorter duration of abstinent periods since initiating cocaine use (P < 0.05).