Drug abuse has long been a social problem in the United States. The social issue of rising drug abuse in women, reasons for this increase, and how abuse in women compares to that in men is an issue of increasing concern. By virtually all economic and social welfare resources available, the most exploited ethnic groups and groups suffering from discrimination are the part of the population with the heaviest hard drug abuse problems (Bourgois, 2003). Statistics of drug abuse among racial groups are as follows: Asians, three percent; Caucasians, seven percent; Hispanics, seven percent; African Americans, eight percent; American Indians/Alaskan Natives, eleven percent; and mixed racial groups, eleven percent. Illicit drug use is most common in the Western United States at about eight percent and the Northeast at about seven percent. These statistics are relative to the South which is six percent and the Midwest which is about seven percent (Anthony, 2001). A vast majority of other drug abusers come from homes where neglect, child abuse and/or domestic violence were present (Bourgois, 2003). Most drug users are from urban areas. Rates of illicit drug use are about four percent in completely rural areas, about five percent in non-metropolitan areas, and about seven percent in various sized metropolitan areas. Regarding age, drug use is most prominent among people 25-30 years old (Anthony, 2001). .
Literature Review.
Epidemiologic surveys consistently find that drug abusers are more likely to be male than female, although the drug problems among women are becoming more apparent and acute (Goodwin, 1991). A number of studies have proven this statement to be true. A study was done to determine trends in drug abuse in America. Between January 1988 and December 1997 369,770 abusers were categorized. Of the group, 38.7% were women, and 61.3% were men (Leiken, Morris, Warren, & Erickson 2001).