Substance Abuse in Women : Etiology and Prevention

Substance abuse, or the use of alcohol or drugs to the extent that normal functioning is impaired, is often viewed as a unique behavior, not subject to the same laws that govern other behaviors. This assumption has led to a plethora of conflicting theories about its etiology that do not take into account extant knowledge about behavior development. (See Lettieri et al., 1980.) This chapter is based upon the assumption that substance abuse has multiple determinants, both within and across individuals, as do other complex behaviors, such as working long hours, driving very fast, eating a lot of sugar, or talking very much. This viewpoint enables us to integrate findings from diverse studies into a coherent picture of substance abuse, including the variables and processes that increase its probability of occurrence.