While drinking can be dangerous for both men and women, it can have a different impact on each gender. Women are at increased risk for specific health problems and drink for different reasons than men. Women should be aware of the dangers of drinking and take steps to protect their health. Drinking can impact a woman’s health in several ways. It can lead to weight gain, disrupt menstrual cycles, and increase the risk of breast cancer. Drinking can also damage the liver, heart, and brain. However, gender-responsive addiction treatment can target women’s challenges and help them make the most of recovery. If you want to learn more about addiction treatment at Crossroads, contact our team at 877.978.1667.
Drinking Dangers for Women
Did you know that differences in men’s and women’s bodies affect how alcohol is absorbed and processed? Women’s bodies are composed of less water than men’s. Therefore they develop a higher blood-alcohol concentration even if they drink the same amount of alcohol as a man. It can also take women’s bodies longer to metabolize or break down the alcohol. Other dangers of women drinking include:
- Greater risk for liver damage
- Higher risk of alcohol-related heart disease
- Increased chance of developing breast cancer
- Increased risk of their baby developing Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) if drinking during pregnancy
Other dangers of women drinking can involve memory problems and difficulty thinking clearly. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) has reported that women who drink excessively are more likely to suffer from anxiety and depression. They are also at greater risk of developing sleeping disorders.
Why Women Start Drinking Alcohol
Some common reasons women may turn to alcohol are as a coping mechanism to deal with challenging relationships, as a way to fill a void in their life, or as a response to trauma or unhealthy relationships. It is vital that women feel safe and are in a comfortable environment to address these issues in recovery. Signs of alcoholism should be treated on early notice. Crossroads provides gender-responsive treatment so that each gender can focus on the challenges that impact their lives the most. Women are surrounded by other women who are facing similar difficulties. Therapists recognize the different needs of women and what approaches support recovery.
Gender-Responsive Treatment for Women
At Crossroads, we understand the unique needs of our female patients. We offer a gender-responsive approach to treatment that is designed specifically for women. This means that our program addresses the challenges faced by women in early sobriety, such as:
- Gender-specific trauma
- Relationship issues
- Balancing work and home life
- Self-esteem and body image issues
- Being a mother in recovery
Drinking alcohol can be dangerous for both men and women, but it can have different impacts on each gender. Women are at increased risk for specific health problems and drink for other reasons than men. Women need to be aware of the dangers of drinking and take steps to protect their health. If you or a woman in your life struggles with alcoholism, please reach out to our team at Crossroads today. We offer gender-responsive treatment that addresses the challenges faced by women in early sobriety. Our program can help women build a foundation for a lifetime of sobriety.
Discover Addiction Treatment for Women at Crossroads
It is crucial for women to be aware of the dangers of drinking and to take steps to protect their health. Crossroads offers several different treatment programs geared toward the specific needs of women and supports them along each step in their recovery so that they can remember who they want to be. We are here to help you every step of the way. If you are ready to take the first step in your recovery, please call us today at 877.978.1667.
