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Alcohol and Drug Services of Gallatin County_____
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Alcohol & Women
© by Jenna Caplette
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Women are less likely to be diagnosed with an alcohol problem than men, and not because
they don’t have one. Rather, because their use and abuse problems often hide under the
kinds of presenting symptoms physicians expect from women. |
Because womens’ abuse problems hide under other symptoms doctors are less
likely to ask the questions about substance use of women, and addiction progresses
further for women than men, taking a greater toll. Female alcoholism has a 50%
higher mortality rate than for men.
For women, depression is usually the primary diagnosis, the first-noticed problem.
Alcohol or drug abuse disorder are secondary conditions. Many women see drugs or
alcohol as a way to have more control in their lives, as an avenue for escaping or
medicating past pain. Women with substance abuse issues are two times as likely to
have a history of being raped. Seventy-five percent of women in jail for substance
abuse crimes have been in abusive relationships.
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According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, “Above seven drinks
per week, a woman’s chances of abusing alcohol or becoming dependent increase. Also,
even women who drink less than seven drinks a week are at increased risk of developing
alcohol abuse or dependence if they occasionally have four more drinks on any given day."
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When alcohol or drug use becomes abuse, or addiction, they are treatable. In the
past, most treatment programs were designed for men, using a confrontational style
that’s less effective for women. Look for programs using new models of treatment
that are not confrontational. Working in all-female groups allows women-specific
issues to be addressed.
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Sobering Facts
- It is estimated that the number of women in the United States who drink has
increased significantly over the last 40 years and that heavy drinking has increased
among young, employed women. As many as 16 percent of these women may be
consuming three to five drinks per day.
- Fewer women than men drink. However, among the heaviest drinkers, women equal
or surpass men in the number of problems that result from their drinking. For
example, female alcoholics have death rates 50 to 100 percent higher than those of
male alcoholics, including deaths from suicides, alcohol-related accidents, heart
disease and stroke, and liver cirrhosis.
- Women are more susceptible to alcohol-related liver damage. They develop liver
disease in a shorter period of time and at lower levels of consumption. The number
of alcoholic women who develop alcohol-related liver disease is higher than among
alcoholic men.
- Repeated or sustained episodes of alcohol intoxication may suppress hormonal
activity in women. Studies suggest that there is a higher prevalence of menstrual
dysfunction and accelerated onset of menopause among alcoholic women. Other
problems such as obstetrical disorders and gynecological surgery are also more
common.
- Women who drink heavily or are alcoholic are more likely to become victims of the
alcohol-related aggression of others, such as date rape.
Resources
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Alcohol & Drug Services of Gallatin County
(406) 586-5493
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Web-work© 2004-09. Webmaster: adsgc_org@hotmail.com
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