Research reveals females become addicted to cocaine faster than males

A recent study published in the journal Biology of Sex Differences shows that the motivation to work for cocaine is much greater in females than in males.

Researchers used rats that were bred to have an elevated stress response and increased impulsiveness, which helped officials train them to reward themselves more easily.

Other studies have shown that cocaine dependency is linked to thrill seeking and impulsivity, which could also be affected by the differences between genders. For both the impulsive and control group, females were the quickest to learn self-administration and were willing to work harder for their next fix. However, at a higher dosage the differences were less pronounced.

This study shows the dangers of addiction, especially with cocaine. Parent involvement is key to helping young people understand the negative impact this drug can have on their developing bodies and minds.

According to the 2009 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, nearly 6.4 percent of students between grades 9 and 12 used cocaine at least once during their lifetime.