Summary of Female Differences in Alcoholism and Chemical Dependency

In this section we summarize some of the findings from the many research studies on gender differences in addiction. Summarizing has an inherent danger – simplifying what is a complex study of a complex subject. However, we believe it is valuable to provide these brief notes to broaden your knowledge and stimulate your thinking about how important continuous, lifelong treatment is for the disease of addiction and its many consequences.

• General statistics on female differences
• Medical aspects of female differences
• Pregnancy issues
• Psychosocial gender differences
• Relationship issues
• Gender differences in relapse

Excerpted from Sheila Blume, MD "Women: Clinical Aspects," Substance Abuse: A Comprehensive Textbook, Third Edition, 1997, Editors: Joyce Lowinson, Pedro Ruiz, Robert Millman, John Langrod and summarized by Eileen Beyer, Psy. D., CAC Diplomate.