Recent research has highlighted the importance of examining gender differences in substance use and associated gender-sensitive mechanisms. Epidemiologic findings suggest that SUD is more prevalent in men compared to women,3,23,24 with women being less likely than men to develop an initial or persistent SUD.25 However, recent findings suggest that the prevalence of drinking has increased in women over the past decade, including drinking volume and frequency.26 Further, women may be more likely to use substances to manage stress and negative affective states compared to men. Women with AUD often report heightened anxiety, are more likely to experience an anxiety disorder,27 and are more likely to ascribe their drinking behavior to a stressor compared to men.28 Women are also more likely to report smoking to reduce negative affect and to improve mood compared to men.29–31 Human laboratory studies demonstrate that following negative mood induction, women have shorter latencies to smoking than men.32 Other studies show that opioid-dependent women are 2 to 3 times more likely to have a mood and anxiety disorder compared to men.33 While it is relatively unknown whether
