Alarming new trend: Girls more vulnerable to drug abuse

In the past few years, Dr. Richard Whitney, medical director of addictions services for Licking Memorial Health Systems, has seen an increase in his female patients.

“It used to be about a three or four to one male to female ratio,” he said. “Now it’s not uncommon at all to have a ratio of two to one, male to female, or less.”

Although Whitney works with patients who are 18 or older, many of the women he helps started using when they were teenagers, he said.

In the past few years, substance abuse has become more socially acceptable for girls, Whitney said. Teen girls often are shown using drugs and alcohol in TV shows and movies, Whitney said.

“Stars like Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton are role models for girls that are unfortunately exhibiting unhealthy behaviors,” he said. “In the past, this was not the case.”

http://www.newarkadvocate.com/article/20100802/NEWS01/8010305