Among persons aged 12 or older in 2000, the percentage of males needing treatment for an illicit drug problem was higher than the percentage of females needing treatment (2.6 vs. 1.6 percent). This translates to 2.7 million males and 1.9 million females needing treatment. On the other hand, the percentage receiving specialty treatment among those needing treatment was higher for females than males (19.0 vs. 15.0 percent). However, this was not a statistically significant difference.

Among youths aged 12 to 17 in 2000, the percentage of males needing treatment for an illicit drug problem was higher than the percentage of females needing treatment (5.0 vs. 4.2 percent). The percentage receiving specialty treatment among youths needing treatment was higher for males than females (13.0 vs. 9.4 percent). This was not a statistically significant difference.