title: Cross-national comparisons of sex differences in opportunities to use alcohol or drugs, and the transitions to use.
abstract: Sex differences in opportunities to use alcohol or drugs, and transition to use, were investigated in 15 surveys, in 2001-2004 (Europe 6; Americas 3; Africa 2, Asia 3; Oceania 1). The paper focuses on 18-29 year olds (N = 9,873). The World Mental Health Survey Initiative oversaw the surveys; each country obtained its own funding. A complex picture emerged with different results for alcohol and for drugs and for opportunity to use and the transition to use. Sex differences in opportunity to use alcohol were small except in Lebanon and Nigeria, whereas for drugs, the largest differences were in Mexico and Colombia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and General Practice, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand. elisabeth.wells@otago.ac.nz
authors.forename: J Elisabeth
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Wells
authors.forename: Josep Maria
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Haro
authors.forename: Eli
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Karam
authors.forename: Sing
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Lepine
authors.forename: Ma Elena
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Medina-Mora
authors.forename: Hideyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakane
authors.forename: Jose
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Posada
authors.forename: James C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Anthony
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Louisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Degenhardt
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Angermeyer
authors.forename: Ronny
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bruffaerts
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: de Girolamo
authors.forename: Ron
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: de Graaf
authors.forename: Meyer
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Glantz
authors.forename: Oye
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gureje
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D038622:Internationality; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult