STUDY: DRUG PROGRAMS FAILING TO REACH GIRLS

WASHINGTON -- Girls and young women face greater health risks from smoking,
alcohol and drug use than their male counterparts and require different
prevention and treatment programs, a study released Wednesday said.

The study, conducted by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse
at Columbia University, showed that girls and young women sink into abuse
and addiction faster than young males.

"They get hooked faster, they get hooked using lesser amounts of alcohol and
drugs and cocaine, and they suffer the consequences faster and more
severely," said Joseph Califano, the center's president.

"The findings from this study cry out for a fundamental overhaul of public
health prevention programs," said Califano, who served as secretary of
health, education and welfare under President Jimmy Carter.

"Unisex prevention programs -- largely developed without regard to gender,
often with males in mind -- fail to influence millions of girls and young
women," Califano said. He also said single-sex treatment programs are often
more effective for women.

The nationwide study covered 1,220 females ages 8 to 22, focusing on school
transition years, such as middle to high school. Researchers also obtained
information from parents.

Studies have shown boys are more prone to abusing alcohol, tobacco,
prescription drugs and illegal substances, but the new study shows the gap
closing among high school girls.

Girls in high school led boys in the use of pain-killers, 8.7 percent to 7.3
percent, and stimulants by 4.6 percent to 3.4 percent. Older girls are also
only a few percentage points below boys in alcohol, cigarette, and marijuana
use.

The study revealed that girls are more likely to use substances to lose
weight, relieve stress, increase confidence, and reduce boredom.

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., who participated in the news
conference, said the study "reveals a disturbing trend for young women."
Clinton said she would introduce a bill to increase public and health care
awareness of the abuse of prescription drugs by young people.