In recent years considerable attention has been paid to the status of women as drug abusers and as clients in drug treatment programs. A study of drug abusers' characteristics found a significantly higher history of non-medical psychotherapeutic drug use for females than for males; however, males had a higher prevalence of illicit drug use. Females in traditional treatment tended to be under 21 years old, but over 30 years old in emergency rooms and crisis center facilities. Females entering treatment were less likely than males to have been arrested, to be employed, and to have entered treatment voluntarily; they were more likely than males to be or to have been married. The data suggest that current long-term opiate-oriented treatment programs may not be appropriate for a large segment of the female drug abusing population. (JAC)