Why are women from Venus and men from Mars when they abuse cocaine?

Abstract

Both preclinical and clinical studies have shown sexually dimorphic patterns in behavioral responses to cocaine in all phases of the cocaine addiction process (induction, maintenance, and relapse). Thus, a clear picture is emerging which suggests that the biological basis of sex-specific differences in cocaine addiction resides in the disparate regulation of the CNS by male and female gonadal hormones. This review discusses the role that gonadal hormones play in these sexually dimorphic patterns of behavioral responses to cocaine.