Gender-specific differences in alcoholism: implications for treatment.

Alcohol abuse and alcoholism cut across gender, race and nationality. In general, more men than women are alcohol dependent or have alcohol problems, but women are at greater risk for adverse effects and alcohol-related diseases. Death rates among female alcoholics are 50 to 100 percent higher than those of men. Major physiological impairments, the diagnostic distribution, the psychosocial consequences and their implication on treatment will be outlined.