Young Women & Alcohol Abuse: A Look at Trends, Consequences, Influences, And Prevention Approaches: Adapted from Girl-Centred Approaches to Prevention, Harm Reduction, And Treatment and Heavy Alcohol Use Among Girls and Young Women: Highlights of Findings from Literature Review and Web Search

Increasing attention is being brought to the issue of substance use by girls and young women, and the associated health and social consequences of heavy drinking, smoking cigarettes, as well as the use of both licit and illicit substances. Historically young men have been more likely than young women to drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes, and use illicit substances, but local, national, and international data now show that this gender gap in substance use is closing. In 2009, a national virtual Community of Practice (vCoP) provided the opportunity for a "virtual discussion" of issues, research, and programming related to girls' and women's substance use in Canada. The goal of the vCoP was to serve as a mechanism for "gendering" the National Framework for Action to Reduce the Harms Associated with Alcohol and other Drugs and Substances in Canada. Participants included planners, decision-makers, direct service providers, educators, NGO leaders, policy analysts, researchers, and interested women. The project was sponsored by the British Columbia Centre of Excellence for Women's Health (BCCEWH) in partnership with the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA) and the Universities of Saskatchewan and South Australia.