Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title:  DIFFERENCES IN DRUG USE BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN: AN ITALIAN 
CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY  
 
Version: 0 Date: 11 Feb 2016 
 
Reviewer:  Robert L.  Peralta  
 
Reviewer’s report:  
 
Gender -related behaviors in drug consumption in Italy  
 
1. Abstract is vague.  Unclear what aspect of drug use is focused upon.  
 
2. Spell out numerals that begin sentences.   
 
3. Need to be specific a bout sex versus gender.  Are sex differences in the biological sense 
being examined or gender in the cultural sense?  
 
4. Opening sentence is incomplete - therapeutic response to what?  Too vague.  
 
5. The background literature is entirely too brief.  There is  no rationale for the study.  A 
theoretical framework is absent.  The background fails to establish a research goal or purpose of 
the study.  What is the problem that is being addressed?   
 
6. I thought the paper was going to be about drug abuse - based on the title.  Thus, the title 
and the abstract need to be synced with the purpose of the paper.   
 
7. The paper needs editorial proofing.  
 
8. The authors do not state hypotheses.   
 
9. It is difficult to comment on the conclusions and the findings in that I am not sure what 
the paper is about.  Moreover, the methods section is underdeveloped.  Has other research cited 
this data base?  Were human subjects protection secured?    What ar e the limitation of the data?  
 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
No 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Unable to assess  
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
No 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscri pt or would you recommend an 
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further 
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I am able to assess the statistics  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Not suitable for publication unless extensively edited  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
 
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an 
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of this 
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an org anisation that may in any way gain or lose 
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents relating to the content of the 
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you received reimbursem ents, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to thi s paper?  
 
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing interests' 
below. If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
I declare I have no competing interests  
 
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