women typically begin using substances later in life than men but once they have initiated substance use women tend to increase their rate of consumption of alcohol cannabis opioids and cocaine more rapidly than men and may progress more quickly than men to the development of drug use disorders in southeastern europe nearly three out of every five people in drug treatment are in treatment for opioid use disorders treatment for cocaine use remains prominent in north america latin america and the caribbean and to a lesser extent in western and central europe while amphetamines remain a problem primarily in east and southeast asia and to some extent in north america i nady elguebaly giuseppe carra and marc galanter cds milan springer cannabis is the main drug for which drug use treatment is sought in africa but many countries most notably mozambique nigeria south africa and the united republic of tanzania have reported an increasing number of people entering treatment for opioid use disorders