TY - JOUR
KW - Adolescent
KW - Adolescent Behavior
KW - Australia
KW - Female
KW - Humans
KW - Male
KW - Patient Acceptance of Health Care/psychology
KW - Risk Factors
KW - Risk-Taking
KW - Sex Characteristics
KW - Substance Abuse Treatment Centers/statistics & numerical data
KW - Substance Abuse, Intravenous/psychology
KW - Substance-Related Disorders/psychology
AU - A. J. Dean
AU - M. McBride
AU - E. M. Macdonald
AU - Y. Connolly
AU - B. M. McDermott
A1 - 
AB - INTRODUCTION AND AIMS: Gender differences have been reported in adult substance users, but little research has examined gender differences in adolescents presenting to treatment services. This study aimed to explore gender differences in adolescents presenting to a withdrawal service. DESIGN AND METHODS: All presentations to a withdrawal service between March 2000 and September 2004 were identified. For each presentation, the following information was extracted from clinical databases: sociodemographics, drug use, risk-taking behaviour, mental health symptoms, reasons and context of drug use. Significant gender differences identified at bivariate analysis were then incorporated into multivariate models exploring predictors of heroin use, cannabis use and sharing injecting equipment. RESULTS: A total of 262 young people were admitted during the study period (53% male, mean age 16.8 years; SD 1.13). Bivariate analysis indicated that girls were more likely to report: being homeless, using a greater number of substances, using heroin and amphetamines, higher rates of injecting, sharing injecting equipment and using with a partner. Multivariate analysis identified that being female was an independent predictor of heroin use and that being male was an independent predictor of cannabis use. Significant predictors of sharing injecting equipment were using with a partner and current use of heroin; the effect of gender was not significant after controlling for other factors. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that male and female adolescents presenting to a withdrawal treatment service exhibit differences in substance use characteristics. Future research should examine the role of gender in determining optimal treatment approaches in substance-using adolescents.
BT - Drug and Alcohol Review
C5 - Opioids & Substance Use; Healthcare Disparities
CP - 3
CY - England
DO - 10.1111/j.1465-3362.2009.00152.x
IS - 3
JF - Drug and Alcohol Review
N2 - INTRODUCTION AND AIMS: Gender differences have been reported in adult substance users, but little research has examined gender differences in adolescents presenting to treatment services. This study aimed to explore gender differences in adolescents presenting to a withdrawal service. DESIGN AND METHODS: All presentations to a withdrawal service between March 2000 and September 2004 were identified. For each presentation, the following information was extracted from clinical databases: sociodemographics, drug use, risk-taking behaviour, mental health symptoms, reasons and context of drug use. Significant gender differences identified at bivariate analysis were then incorporated into multivariate models exploring predictors of heroin use, cannabis use and sharing injecting equipment. RESULTS: A total of 262 young people were admitted during the study period (53% male, mean age 16.8 years; SD 1.13). Bivariate analysis indicated that girls were more likely to report: being homeless, using a greater number of substances, using heroin and amphetamines, higher rates of injecting, sharing injecting equipment and using with a partner. Multivariate analysis identified that being female was an independent predictor of heroin use and that being male was an independent predictor of cannabis use. Significant predictors of sharing injecting equipment were using with a partner and current use of heroin; the effect of gender was not significant after controlling for other factors. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that male and female adolescents presenting to a withdrawal treatment service exhibit differences in substance use characteristics. Future research should examine the role of gender in determining optimal treatment approaches in substance-using adolescents.
PP - England
PY - 2010
SN - 1465-3362; 0959-5236
SP - 278
EP - 285
EP - 
T1 - Gender differences in adolescents attending a drug and alcohol withdrawal service
T2 - Drug and Alcohol Review
TI - Gender differences in adolescents attending a drug and alcohol withdrawal service
U1 - Opioids & Substance Use; Healthcare Disparities
U2 - 20565520
U3 - 10.1111/j.1465-3362.2009.00152.x
VL - 29
VO - 1465-3362; 0959-5236
Y1 - 2010
ER -