Women face tough challenges in overcoming addiction, reports the Harvard Mental Health Letter

Women often find it harder than men to recover from addictions, reports the January 2010 issue of the Harvard Mental Health Letter.

They face other challenges as well. Women tend to progress more quickly than men from use of an addictive substance to dependence on it (a phenomenon known as telescoping). They also develop medical or social consequences of addiction faster than men, and are more susceptible to relapse after quitting.