Abstract
Female adolescents (n = 40) and male adolescents (n = 42) with conjoint conduct disorder and substance abuse were compared to elucidate differential substance use and abuse patterns and to determine the probability and rate of transition from alcohol and drug use to a DSM-III-R diagnosis of abuse/dependence. It was found that young women were more likely to have experimented with nonprescription diet pills and caffeine. Young men, on the other hand, were more likely to have experimented with snuff or chewing tobacco. Women more frequently had a diagnosis of nicotine dependence and were at greater risk than men to qualify for that diagnosis. Women started drinking alcohol at a later age than men, although the age at which they qualified for a diagnosis of alcohol abuse/dependence did not differ. The interval between alcohol use and a diagnosis of alcohol abuse/dependence was shorter for women than men. Furthermore, compared to the men, the women exhibited a shorter interval between cannabis use and a diagnosis of cannabis abuse/dependence.