More teenage girls than boys now smoke and abuse prescription drugs, and girls also are starting to use marijuana, alcohol, and cigarettes at a higher rate than boys, according to the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP).

The Washington Post reported Feb. 9 that the rise in teen female drug use is opposite overall trends, which indicate less use of illicit drugs.  ONDCP drew its conclusions from an analysis of the 2004 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

Increased stress, concerns about appearance, and the need to escape the trauma of physical or sexual abuse are among the factors that may be involved in the trend. "Girls want to do what older guys are doing or they want to be cool," said Meghan Ward, 18, who volunteers with a Connecticut group called Peer Advocates. "Girls do feel a lot of stress -- everything from school, to most of us work, we have boyfriends and we want to maintain good friendships. It's hard."

More girls were first-time marijuana users in 2002, 2003, and 2004, and many more used prescription drugs illicitly than boys of the same age.