reported lifetime prevalence of adolescent substance use indicates that 66% of males and 48% of females consume alcohol, compared to 32% of males and 13% of females who use cannabis. Recent (past month) alcohol use (particularly weekend binge-drinking) is reported by 32% of school-going adolescents (Flisher et al., 2003). The Cape Town region of South Africa thus provides an opportunity to study adolescents meeting criteria for AUD but with minimal other drug use history.
