Women alcoholics--social, demographic and clinical characteristics in a Brazilian sample.

We compared 115 female and 115 male Brazilian alcoholics in terms of their social and demographic characteristics, as well as other characteristics associated with alcohol consumption. Women both began drinking and increased their consumption later than men. The incidence of attempted suicide was higher among women. Females used less illicit drugs. Male alcoholics were more frequently born in the city of São Paulo. As for adherence to treatment in an out-patient clinic, no significant differences were found between the sexes 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after initiation of treatment.