ABSTRACT
Alcohol affects men and women’s bodies differently, leading to differing patterns of drinking, amount, frequency, and years of alcohol consumption and differences in rates of alcoholism. These differences have been linked to biological, psychological, and social factors that contribute to the causes and consequences of problem drinking. This chapter first reviews the biological, psychological, and social factors that contribute to the gender differences in alcohol consumption, rates of alcoholism, treatment seeking, and recovery from alcoholism. As a result of these differences, there is growing consensus that alcoholism treatment for women may differ from the treatment offered to men. The special therapeutic needs of alcoholic women are identified, and a clinical model of treatment to address these needs is presented.
