Tonmyr, L. & Shields, M. (2017). Childhood sexual abuse and substance abuse: A gender paradox?. Child Abuse & Neglect, 63, 284-294. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2016.11.004
In a large national Canadian survey of adults, childhood sexual abuse was more common among women than men and was linked to heavy and hazardous drinking and to the use of marijuana, illicit drugs and drugs used off-label, with similar patterns for both genders. Depression and self-rated mental health barely explained these links, which suggests that preventing child sexual abuse may also help reduce substance abuse.