Developing theory-based substance abuse prevention programs for young adolescent girls

Considerable progress has been made in prevention science, and since reachi ng a high in the late 1970s and early 1980s, overall substance use has decl ined in the United States. However, for some populations a,rd substances, s maller declines or even increased use has been observed. Notably, the tradi tional gender gap in substance use has deer-eased substantially, and it has disappeared completely for some substances, especially among younger cohor ts. This article was written to integrate existing evidence on the relevanc e of gender for substance use prevention research and to move the the field by suggesting theoretical models that might inform future prevention resea rch with girls. This article reviews the following: (a) trends in substance use, (b) gender differences in risk factors, and (c) theoretical models de emed relevant to substance use prevention among girls. Finally, recommendat ions regarding needed research and prevention strategies that fake gender, race, and ethnicity into account are provided.