Inpatients seeking treatment for substance use disorder were compared by gender on several variables. Results included (1) females were more likely to endorse dependence symptoms and report experiencing dependence symptoms at a younger age; (2) females progressed faster to regular use of drugs; (3) females were more likely to begin substance use with cigarettes, whereas males typically began with alcohol. (Contains 30 references, 3 tables, and 2 figures.) (ADT)