[Substance abuse : a men's disease ?]

For biological and social reasons, men have to face pressure and incentives towards competivity, performance and risk seeking behaviours. These put them at risk for substance use, abuse and dependence, also in a recreational context, to improve their performances. Men's substance use is therefore significantly higher compared to women (2/3 of the global prevalence). The purpose of this paper is a description of gender differences in substance use and advice to provide state of the art screening and care of male patients. Recommendations for a « men-friendly » consultation include : provide a space where men feel comfortable ; if possible, give the choice between a male or a female practitioner ; use other communication media then language only ; discuss and put in perspective the traditional male image ; and collaborate with the patient.
Competing Interests: Les auteurs n’ont déclaré aucun conflit d’intérêts en relation avec cet article.