Women and Alcohol

There was a time when excessive drinking was an activity that was associated with men, but today, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, one in eight women struggle with binge drinking and alcoholism. Additionally, in 2012 there was an increase in alcohol related driving incidents by women, as well as occurrences of women mixing alcohol and other substances.

Reasons Women Drink

There are a number of common factors for the reasons that women give for drinking. The first and foremost is to relieve the stress and pressure of their daily lives. Many women struggle to balance the demands of taking care of their families and household responsibilities and maintaining their professional duties. As there has been a shift in office environment protocol, to include women in work related events where alcohol is a factor; more women are participating in those events.

In a modern age, many women have postponed marrying and starting a family and choose to enjoy their social life with friends, which much of the time includes drinking. Finally, as research has shown, some women drink because they are genetically predisposed to drink.

The Health Risks

Alcohol abuse among women carries a multitude of health risks including:
• Breast cancer
• Heart disease
• Liver damage
• Risks to fetus when drinking during pregnancy

As a general rule, women weigh less and have less body water than men. Therefore, it will take less alcohol for a woman to become inebriated than men. Additionally, the USDA clarifies 1 drink as either 5 ounces of wine, 12 ounces of beer or 1.5 ounces of liquor. Women who consume more than the USDA suggestion for moderate drinking, which is one drink per day and no more than seven in a week, also put themselves at risk for alcoholism.

The signs of alcoholism in women may present differently than the most common signs and may include the following:
• Headaches
• Black outs
• Weight gain
• Frequent nausea
• Irregular sleeping patterns

Seeking Assistance for Alcohol Abuse

As there are different reasons for why women drink, there are equally different reasons why women do not seek help for their alcohol abuse. Recognizing that there is a problem is half the battle and it is the first step in recovery. It may be necessary for you to enter a medical detox program to remove the toxins from your body and keep you comfortable as you withdraw from alcohol. The next step will be to find a rehab program that will meet your needs and help you build a sober life and continued recovery.