Taking birth control pills may also effect metabolism. Women's physiology is different. The female body has higher body fat and lower fluids than males. At the same body weight, the same amount of alcohol in a woman's body is more concentrated which heightens alcohol's effect. Women tend to put themselves last.
Women generally take on several responsibilities at one time and put their own needs last.
A woman's chemical abuse is viewed as less serious than a man's and is frequently misdiagnosed. Women complain of symptoms such as depression, anxiety, insomnia and stress related illness, which are also common symptoms of chemical dependency. Such symptoms are often treated with prescription drugs, which for an addict exacerbates the problem. Other Complicating Factors Chemically dependent women report a high incidence of sexual abuse, including rape and incest. Many of these problems are not treated and continue into adulthood, particularly when dealing with relationships and trust.