GENDER DIFFERENCES IN EARLY-LIFE RISK-FACTORS FOR SUBSTANCE USE ABUSE- A STUDY OF AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN SAMPLE

Gender differences in risk and protective factors for substance use/ab use in early adulthood were studied. Comprehensive systematic data on African-American males (N = 318) and females (N = 322), from birth to 7 years of age, were available from the National Collaborative Perinat al Study. These subjects were retrieved for assessment at average age 24. There are more differences between males and females than there ar e similarities in regard to the early childhood variables that predict substance use in early adulthood. However, high activity and intensit y of response during infancy (measured at 8 months of age) was found t o predict later substance use for both males and females. This type of behavior is considered by us to be a trait of temperament and to sugg est the possibility of a genetic predisposition. More risk factors wer e found for female than for males. The risk factors for females were p rimarily of two types: 1) Related to experiences with mother and with the family environment; and 2) Poor levels of intellectual functioning and academic performance, and abnormal mental status.