April is Alcohol Awareness Month. While media tend to focus on teenagers who drink during this month, the truth is that alcohol and alcoholism affect every demographic. Here are some facts about women and girls and alcohol that you might not know. If you have any questions, please reach out to Crossroads today at 877.978.1667.
Facts About Women with Alcohol Addiction
Alcohol addiction does not discriminate. Women of all ages, races, and socioeconomic backgrounds can be affected. There are a number of factors that can increase a woman’s risk of developing alcohol addiction. Some of these include having a family history of alcoholism, or living in a stressful or traumatic environment, such as experiencing physical or sexual abuse.
During Alcohol Awareness Month, we wanted to share some important facts about women and alcohol addiction. Here are a few of them:
- Chronic heavy drinking can precipitate menstrual disorders such as heavy flow, painful periods, and irregular cycles. Even moderate drinking can contribute to infertility in women, and the more alcohol a woman consumes, the greater her risk of infertility and miscarriages. Also, heavy drinking can increase the risk of premature menopause.
- Women with a history of childhood conduct disorder are nearly 5 times likelier than those without such a history to develop alcohol dependence. Alternatively, men with a history of conduct disorder are only twice as likely to develop alcohol dependence
- Teenage girls who drink frequently are almost 6 times more likely to attempt suicide than girls who never drink.
- Alcohol is associated more closely with crimes of sexual violence than any other drug; it is implicated in as many as 73% of all rapes and 70% of all incidents of domestic violence. It is linked to more incidences of violence than illicit drugs, including cocaine, heroin, and PCP.
Alcohol doesn’t just impact the woman who is drinking. More than half of pregnant women who drink do not discover their condition until after the first trimester. During that time, a woman may unwittingly expose the fetus to dangerous substances. The fetus’s brain is at the greatest risk of being damaged by alcohol during the last trimester of pregnancy.
How Common Are Mental Health Concerns in Women Who Drink?
The majority of women who abuse alcohol have had at least 1 episode of mental illness, compared to more than half of men. The rates of mental illness are even higher for women diagnosed as alcohol dependent. The most commonly diagnosed mental health problems among girls and women with alcohol problems are conditions such as:
- Depression
- Anxiety disorders
- Borderline personality disorder
- Eating disorders
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Bipolar disorder
Women who drink heavily are also more likely to smoke and use other drugs. This puts them at risk for even more serious health problems.
Seek Women’s Alcohol Addiction Treatment at Crossroads Today
If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol addiction, know that you’re not alone. At Crossroads Maine, we are committed to providing non-judgmental, compassionate treatment for women and girls affected by addiction. Our programs are tailored to meet the unique needs of each individual, and we offer a range of services including inpatient, outpatient, and aftercare programs.
We hope that you will consider Crossroads as your destination for healing and recovery. Let us help you celebrate Alcohol Awareness Month in the best way possible: by breaking free of alcohol addiction. Please don’t hesitate to call us today at 877.978.1667 if you have any questions or would like more information about our programs.
These stats were taken from Women Under the Influence by The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University.
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