[Sex-specific aspects of addiction].

: Addictive diseases such as alcoholism, nicotine or opiate addiction show sex-specific characteristics. These apply to epidemiological data, the psychosocial conditions for the development of the addiction,the symptoms, possible consequences for pregnancy and breastfeeding, the course of the addiction, as well as its treatment. As a whole, men are more frequently substance-dependent than women. This is true for all types of addiction and for each individual substance - with the exception of benzodiazepines and analgesics to which women are equally or more frequently dependent. Moreover, women have a different consumption pattern from men. Epidemiological surveys on illegal drugs frequently do not present sex-specific data. There also is still a great need for research in regards to sex-specific therapeutic strategies.