Negative behaviors, including delinquency and substance abuse, are on the rise for adolescent girls. From 1988 to 1997 the rates of detention for boys increased by 30% as compared to a 65% increase for girls. Here in North Carolina, from 1995 to 2000, the admission rate for girls to detention increased by 74% compared to a 40% increase for boys. It is still true that there are more boys in our juvenile justice system. Only twenty-six percent of the juveniles in the Juvenile Justice System are female. However, the rate of admissions for adolescent girls is increasing much more quickly than the rate for boys. To put it succinctly, girls are in trouble. In the past ten years, violent crimes committed by girls has increased by 64% (Chesney-Lind, 1998).

Similar to the field of delinquency, the substance abuse field is seeing an increase in female adolescent involvement. While research shows (Dakof, 2000, Rouse 1998) that there are no significant differences in frequency of drug use among adolescent boys and girls, evidence does suggest that adolescent girls are more likely to be at higher risk for developing drug dependence than their male counterparts (Kandel, Warner, & Kessler, 1998). Additionally, adolescent female drug abusers appear to show a much more complex psychological make up than their male counter parts. The young women tend to show more internalizing disorders (e.g., major depression), more externalizing behaviors (e.g., running away), and more serious problems with family functioning (e.g., parental rejection, sexual abuse, physical abuse, and parental substance abuse; Dakof, 2000, Toray et al., 1991, Henggeler et al., 1987, Widom et al., 1983).

In a nutshell, at risk girls are different from at risk boys. Their behaviors are more intense, their psychology is more complex, and society treats them differently. Treatment providers should be aware of these differences and plan their interventions accordingly. Professionals need to be intentional with their approach towards intervention with girls. Traditional systems have been developed for boys. Rules made for boys dominate the entire Juvenile Justice System (Marks, 1999). However, as stated earlier, more and more girls are becoming involved in the juvenile justice system, Therefore, it is imperative that new interventions be tailored to the gender specific needs of girls.