Regarding substance abuse, what does Convergence Theory propose?

Convergence Theory in the context of substance abuse posits that the rates of substance use and misuse among women are increasingly becoming similar to those of men. This theory highlights a significant sociocultural shift where traditional gender differences in substance use are diminishing, often attributed to changing social norms, increased accessibility to substances, and evolving roles of women in society. The idea is that as societal attitudes towards women change, their patterns of substance use also evolve, leading to a convergence in the prevalence and types of substance abuse between genders. This perspective emphasizes the importance of understanding these trends in addressing substance abuse treatment and prevention effectively.

The other options focus on different aspects: narrowing drug preferences and age-related factors may influence substance use behavior, but they do not directly relate to the gender convergence aspect central to the Convergence Theory. Thus, while all may explore facets of substance use, they do not capture the essence of the gender parity that Convergence Theory specifically addresses.