目的：了解臺灣地區監所內藥癮個案精神科臨床表現與性別差異。方法：於1998年6月至1999年9月期間，南部某看守所附設勒戒所，根據毒品危害防治條例相關規定，接受某醫院精神科醫療團隊評估之個案為研究對象。由醫師、社工師或心理師及護理師所組成的團隊，進行毒品施用傾向與整體功能評估。結果：424名研究個案，男性348名(82.1%)，女性76名 (17.9%)。女性平均年齡較低，受教育年數較少，無業及兼職比例較高，租屋居住比率較高。男女性在毒品前科次數、毒品罪名、濫用型態及篩檢結果方面沒有統計學顯著差異，但有較高比率的男性曾有其他犯罪記錄 (36% vs. 6.6%, p=0.000)。女性較高比率具憂鬱病史，約為男性的2倍。而且女性組的社會功能較差，家屬及同住者有較多比率有物質或藥品濫用史，社會支持的主觀感受及客觀評估均較差。女性組入所前曾因心理或情緒問題接受治療或認同針對心理問題治療之重要性的比例均較高。大部份上述性別差異在不同年齡層比較仍達統計學顯著意義。結論：女性藥癮者的臨床症狀表現與男性的相差極大，尤其罹患憂鬱症之比例較高，社會支持與功能較差，但就醫的意願較高。

　　　　　Objective: To compare gender differences in the clinical characteristics at a compulsory detoxification detention center for drug offenders. Methods: From June 1998 to Sept. 1999, 424 adult drug offenders confined in a detention center were assessed by a psychiatric team (including one psychiatrist, one psychologist or social worker, and one psychiatric nurse) from a medical center, according to the Statute for Narcotics Hazard Control promulgated in May 1998. Assessments included sociodemographic data collection, clinical psychiatric diagnosis , Addiction Severity Index rating, and analysis for patterns of drug and substance abuse. Results: Female drug offenders made up 17.9% of the sample population. Females were younger, less educated, more likely not to have a full-time job and live in rented premises. No significant gender differences were observed in regards to narcotics-related criminal offences, grade of narcotics used, abuse patterns or results of urine screening tests. More frequent and varied experiences with the criminal justice system were demonstrated for males. Females were two times more likely to have a depressive disorder, and also had lower socio-economic status, other abusers in the household and earlier treatment entry. Women reported poorer objective and subjectively perceived social support than men. After the data was stratified according to age, most of the gender differences remain significant. Conclusion: Obvious gender differences were determined for clinical characteristics in a sample population of illicit drug users. Higher rates of depression, poorer social support networks, and elevated frequency of access to social security resources were revealed for female abusers. Clinical implication: Our findings highlight the need for consideration of gender difference in strategies aimed at the prevention and treatment of drug abuse.