Alcohol Dependence in Women

The influence of alcoholism on monthly cycles increases the intensity of craving for alcohol. Research shows that nearly 1 in 3 women experience physical, sexual violence over the course of their lives. However, there is also plenty of research showing a strong relationship between drinking and domestic violence, particularly in cases where both partners had been drinking. Anyone who has struggled to overcome alcohol dependence or an alcohol abuse problem knows how difficult a process recovery can be. But the evidence suggests that women are just as likely to recover as men once they begin treatment—a glimmer of hope that may make the journey to recovery worth trying. But it seems that we are still struggling with drinking. In recent years, there’s been a flood of articles about “mommy wine culture” and alcohol abuse in women.

By the time Victoria Cooper enrolled in an alcohol treatment program in 2018, she was ”drinking for survival,” not pleasure, she says — multiple vodka shots in the morning, at lunchtime and beyond. In the treatment program, she saw other women in their 20s struggling with alcohol and other drugs.

Women, Do We Need an Intervention?

In the same study, women were discovered to produce less of these metabolizing enzymes. Breast cancer risks increase for women who drink as compared to those who don’t consume alcohol. Studies show that women who drink as little as one drink per day have 5-9% higher risk of developing breast cancer. What’s more, is that this risk increases for each additional drink. Many alcohol rehab and recovery programs focus on helping female alcoholics stop drinking and work through other issues related to their alcohol abuse, including trauma, depression, or sexual abuse. This is because addiction and mental illness are co-occurring disorders. This means that where one of these issues is present, there is an increased risk of developing the other.

Changes in hormone levels during the menstrual cycle may also affect how a woman metabolizes alcohol. Women have lower levels of two enzymes—alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase—that metabolize alcohol in the stomach and liver. As a result, women absorb more alcohol into their bloodstreams than men.

Physical Signs of Liver Damage

As part of a research study, Sugarman and her colleagues gave women struggling with alcohol use information on how alcohol affects women differently from men. Some participants had been in detox 20 times yet had never heard this information, Sugarman says.

Most people will need to go through several relapses before they are able to shake off an alcohol addiction for good. To ease withdrawal symptoms, patients go through alcohol detox. It’s the psychological symptoms that take the longest to disappear. These symptoms women and alcoholism can emerge out of nowhere up to several years after someone has stopped drinking. One of the symptoms of alcoholism is that the addicted individual will experience strong cravings to drink. These urges may make women struggling with alcoholism feel restless.

Women and Processing Alcohol

This is a huge problem, as 35.3% of deaths among American women, each year are caused by heart diseases. There are many possible reasons why alcohol may have more of an effect on women than men. Those who don’t receive treatment for these withdrawal symptoms may die. It’s important to note that the severity of the withdrawal symptoms will differ from one woman to another. It all depends on the length of the alcohol abuse, the amount that was consumed, and other factors. Women who drink to handle stress in their life are more likely to become alcoholics.

“There needs to be just more overall public awareness of the concerns around women’s drinking, and I don’t think we’re there yet,” Sugarman said. “Women who have fewer years of alcohol use compared to men have more https://ecosoberhouse.com/ of these physical consequences. So essentially they’re getting sicker faster than men from alcohol,” Sugarman told TODAY. Causing fights, driving under the influence, or hurting someone can lead to arrests.