Continuous studies in area of drug abuse and drug addiction are explaining more about shifting inclinations, especially regarding the peculiar vulnerabilities of girls and young adult women to drug abuse effects.

Mostly drug abuse that happens among women has an impact which goes beyond the individual. Drug use at the time of pregnancy can have several harmful effects on both the mother and unborn baby, like an increased drug abuse risk for the baby in adolescence and young adulthood. It is distressing that in 2006-2007, 5.2 percent of pregnant women aged 15-44 had taken an illicit drug.

But it is not confined only to adult women who are at risk, but also in the youngest age group (12- to 17-year-olds). In this age group both males and females had same rates of drug use like cocaine, hallucinogens, inhalants, and the illegal use of prescription psychotherapeutic drugs in 2007. Surprisingly, young females succeeded males in drug dependence in 2006 and 2007.

Moreover, research to a great extent suggests that women might be more vulnerable than men to certain effects of drug abuse and addiction. This higher vulnerability may develop from gender-specific differences in provocation of drug use, distinct sensitivities to drug effects, and a host of different  biological and environmental factors. More research in this field, animal models, and clinical studies suggest that females might be more vulnerable than males to the advantageous effects of drugs, which will increase their risk for dependence. Recent study proved that stress is the main cause for the drug addiction in girls.