Posted on December 24, 2011

A troubling trend appears to be emerging among adolescent girls. According to a recent Find Articles report, more than one-fifth of eighth-grade girls have reported alcohol use in the last month. Marijuana rates among this demographic are rising faster than boys of the same age.

At the same time, stimulants and inhalants are more likely to be used among this group and once drugs enter the mix, physical and psychological dependence is more likely.

Girls in this age range using drugs are also at more risk sexually than boys. Research findings suggest that adolescent girls consuming alcohol more than five times per month are less likely to use condoms or other birth control during sexual intercourse. The use of marijuana also increases the risk of unprotected sex.

With the data suggesting female adolescents are at a higher risk for substance abuse and unprotected sexual activity, prevention programs aimed specifically at girls should be readily available – yet it is lacking in some areas.

Studies examining prevention programs aimed at both boys and girls report response levels higher among girls as compared with boys. When prevention programs are not gender-specific, they tend to be less effective for girls than boys. One Palinkas et al. study focused on testing social network and skills training and restructuring for female adolescents among multiple ethnic groups.

The study determined the female-specific programs that focus on these skills proved ineffective and are even potentially counterproductive in terms of substance abuse outcomes. Another program launched by Weiss et al. instead focused on empowerment and leadership development, producing outcomes with lower drinking rates among adolescent girls less likely to use substances compared with those in the comparison group.

Elliot et al. focused on a program involving team sports that focused on drug abuse prevention and the promotion of healthy nutrition and exercise. Girls taking part in the program increased their knowledge of the effects of substance abuse and were less likely to use harmful drugs.