Although rates of marijuana, alcohol, and tobacco use by 12th-grade boys and girls declined over the 25-year period ending in 2000, the "gender gap" in use of these drugs remained largely unchanged. According to data compiled by the annual Monitoring the Future (MTF) survey, senior girls were 77 percent as likely as boys (compared with 78 percent in 1976) to have reported using marijuana in the past month. Girls in the 12th-grade class of 2000 were 64 percent as likely (up from 54 percent in 1976) to have had five or more drinks in a row during the past 2 weeks, and girls and boys were equally likely to be daily smokers.

Ethnic differences in drug use--for boys as well as girls--are much wider than are gender differences. A recently published review of MTF data reveals that these ethnic differences are significant and have persisted since MTF began collecting drug use data in 1976. Key substance use patterns among ethnic groups and gender differences within those groups are presented below.

Smoking

Daily smoking declined among all ethnic groups between 1976 and 1990, then leveled off before beginning to increase modestly between 1996 and 2000. Among ethnic groups, Native Americans were most likely to smoke and African Americans least likely. Within ethnic groups, African-American girls were less likely than boys to be daily smokers.

Alcohol

Girls were less likely than boys to report heavy alcohol use (five or more drinks in a row within the past 2 weeks), and the prevalence for girls and boys over the 25-year period ending in 2000 generally decreased. Among ethnic groups, Native Americans were most likely to report heavy drinking; Asian-American and African-American 12th-graders reported the lowest prevalence. No significant gender differences in alcohol use emerged within ethnic groups.

Marijuana

Overall, 12th-grade boys in all ethnic groups were somewhat more likely than girls to have used marijuana within the past 30 days. Prevalence rates for girls and boys declined between 1976 and 1990, held steady until 1995, and increased between 1996 and 2000. Among ethnic groups, Native Americans were most likely and Asian Americans least likely to have used marijuana within the past month.

Source

Wallace, J.M., et al. Gender and ethnic differences in smoking, drinking and illicit drug use among American 8th, 10th and 12th grade students, 1976-2000. Addiction 98(2):225-234, 2003.

Volume 18, Number 2 (August 2003)

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Questions? See our Contact Information. Last updated on Monday, August 11, 2003.