Young women & alcohol abuse

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As yet, there is not a large literature on influences and pathways to substance use by girls. One study that has contributed to our understanding of sex- and gender-based influences on use and pathways to use is The Formative Years report, published in 2003 by the National Centre on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University in the US. This study identified key influences on girls’ and young women’s substance use in four domains: 1) personal attributes, attitudes, and childhood experiences; 2) peer and school influences; 3) family, culture, and community; and 4) societal influences, such as media advertising. They found for example that young women tend to use substances to improve mood, increase confidence, reduce tension, cope with problems, lose inhibitions, enhance sex or lose weight, whereas young males tend to use alcohol or drugs for sensation seeking or to enhance their social status. They identified a strong media influence on girls and young women’s substance use — that tobacco and alcohol advertisers tend to target females’ concerns about their appearance, reinforcing unhealthy standards of thinness and sex appeal. They also made note of gendered influences related to the transitions into adolescence and early adulthood — occurring when entering middle or junior high school, entering and graduating from high school or college or entering the workforce — frequently involve many changes in social and physical environment that influence the risk of substance use.

These critical transitions can be particularly stressful for girls/young women and are at risk of turning to use of tobacco, alcohol and drugs.

Gender-Informed Prevention Approaches

Despite the serious health consequences and alarming trends in levels and patterns of alcohol use by girls and young women, relatively few prevention programs have been designed and evaluated which address these risk and protective factors for girls and young women. The search found over 35 examples of gender-informed preventative programming/interventions in BC, Canada and abroad. Below are a few examples of gender specific programming organized into universal, selected and targeted levels.

Universal prevention focuses on broad population of girls or young women with prevention and health promotion efforts i.e. ‘girl-centred’ positive youth development programs, awareness campaigns, and virtual communities for girls.

Peer support - Go Girl! YWCA Greater Vancouver (Vancouver, BC), provides workshops for girls 10-13 years which covers topics such as body image, self-esteem, bullying, assertiveness skills, relationships, peer pressure, goal setting, decision-making combined with fitness activities. www.saleemanoon.com/gogirl/

Leadership based - ELLE Project: Leadership Building for Young Women (Canada), mentorship and community leadership development training program for young women 16-25 years. For seven days, twenty young women from across Canada get together to explore and address issues in their communities, in their lives and how to make change. Includes 4-day training/ workshops, national network retreat and mentoring.

www.powercampnational.ca/en/elle-project-fall-2009

Selective prevention focuses on particular sub-population of girls and young women with a particular risk potential. Programs aim to reduce risk by building strengths and protective factors.

Community based - Anti-Dote: Multiracial and Indigenous Girls and Women’s Network (Victoria, BC), grassroots network and community-based organization for girls and young women of racialized minority and Indigenous backgrounds. Provides outreach services, weekly programs, workshops and social events that address the needs of marginalized girls and young women. Offers supportive environment that reduces social isolation and connects girls and young women to other health, education and social services they may not otherwise access. www.antidotenetwork.org

Art based - Art Attack (Verdun, Quebec), after-school art program engages girls 14-17 in arts-based activities designed to build self awareness and self-esteem; increase critical thinking skills and ability to act on issues of violence and discrimination; and connect girls to people and resources in their community, as well as engage girls in community action project that they develop themselves. Includes photography, spoken word, dance, zines, etc. www.fillesdaction.ca/en/art-attack

Rites of Passage Girls Group - Interior Indian Friendship Centre (Kamloops, BC), group for marginalized and at-risk Aboriginal/ First Nations girls. Empowers girls to resist societal stereotypes and develop healthy definitions of themselves as Aboriginal/ First Nations girls. www.cdnwomen.org/PDFs/EN/CWF-Grants-GF-2009.pdf

Indicated prevention and harm reduction focuses on girls and young women who are drinking and who may be engaging in harmful patterns of drinking, with an emphasis on minimizing harm, promoting health and preventing dependence.