While men often deny they have a problem with alcohol, women usually acknowledge that they are experiencing a problem in their lives, but identify that problem as stress or depression, not drinking, he says. They also try to hide their alcoholism. Consequently, they often become alcoholics at an earlier age and stage than men, and suffer the effects of alcohol-related diseases earlier. Women have more medical problems related to their alcoholism even though they may drink less than men. Women are more likely to consume psychoactive drugs along with alcohol.
Women enter treatment at later stages than men.
Barriers such as the stigma of alcoholism, inadequate child care and fewer financial resources for treatment contribute to their delay in getting help. Women substance abusers often have had negative life experiences such as having parents who are alcoholics or being sexually victimized, as this may contribute to the onset of alcoholism. Women substance abusers have a low self image of themselves and, as lawyers, they often over compensate by trying to be super lawyers, super wives and super mothers. This self-imposed burden exacerbates their problem. Use women to reach other women.