“Our failure to confront the special needs of girls and women with substance abuse problems is inexcusable.  The one size fits all prevention and treatment approach, largely driven by male substance abuse, has condemned millions of girls and women to tragic episodes of abuse and addiction that have ruined too many lives."   --Joseph A. Califano, Jr., CASA’s chairman and president and former U.S. Secretary of Health

Here are suggestions on how 10 different groups can help raise awareness and prevent substance abuse among women and girls:

1. Women: Get the facts about substance abuse; learn the warning signs and times.

2. Parents: Learn that the risks of substance abuse for your daughters differ from those for your sons; educate your daughters and get help fast if problems develop.

3. Adult children and caregivers: Learn signs of substance abuse among older women and intervene early.

4. Doctors and other health care professionals: Screen for substance abuse among girls and women; educate them about the dangers of smoking, drinking and other drug use; assure that they receive treatment.

5. Treatment providers: Develop programs tailored to women and take account of the special needs of pregnant and post-partum women.

6. Elementary and secondary schools: Provide comprehensive, age appropriate and gender sensitive prevention programs and help girls make successful transitions from elementary to middle school, middle to high school, and high school to college.

7. Colleges and universities: Educate college women about gender differences in risk and consequences of substance use, and provide appropriate screening, assessment and treatment.

8. Public and private insurers: Cover costs of screening, assessment and treatment for substance abuse tailored to the needs of women.

9. Federal and state governments: Step up investments in research, prevention and treatment programs targeted to the needs of girls and women.

10. Tobacco and alcohol marketers: Refrain from linking smoking and drinking with unrealistically thin images of women, and from presenting glamorous images of women’s smoking, drinking or addiction.

Source:  Women Under the Influence, The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University