Women and Addiction: An Update

• 02 Tháng Sáu 2025
• in: Sober living

But Marlene Oscar-Berman, an anatomy and neuropsychology professor at Boston University Medical School, has found a twist. That changed when government institutions like the US National Institutes of Health women and alcoholism mandated that women and minorities had to be included as clinical research subjects, and critical gender gaps in medical research began to be addressed. Scientists have discovered that women produce smaller quantities of an enzyme called alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), which is released in the liver and breaks down alcohol in the body.

Setting Healthy Boundaries in Relationships

However, in all this research, it is unclear to what extent drinking is a cause or an effect of IPV, or both. Countless studies show that males are more likely than females to be drinkers, and that among drinkers, males drink more heavily than females (Grant et al, 2015; Hasin et al, 2007). However, research suggests that this gender gap in alcohol use may be narrowing (Grant et al, 2017; Keyes et al, 2011; Slade et al, 2016). In a recent meta-analysis by Slade and colleagues (2016), temporal trends in alcohol use (any and problematic) and alcohol-related harms https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/how-to-make-your-home-more-environmentally-friendly/ were analyzed by birth cohort using data derived from 68 studies (about 75% from the US or Europe). They reported a linear decrease over time in sex ratios for any and problematic alcohol use and alcohol-related problems, with ratios in younger cohorts (e.g., those born 1991–2000) being closer to equal compared to older cohorts (Slade et al, 2016).

• In an analysis of two decades of data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Karaye and his colleagues found that women’s alcohol-related mortality rate rose by 14.7%, as compared to 12.5% in men.
• Individuals with AUD will have a problem with limiting their alcohol consumption.
• Roughly 1 in 9 students, including 10% of females and 13% of males, drop out of school by 12th grade.
• Heart disease refers to various heart-related conditions that can be fatal because they prevent the heart from functioning properly.
• Scientists have discovered that women produce smaller quantities of an enzyme called alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), which is released in the liver and breaks down alcohol in the body.

Depression in Older Adults

• In one early study, Bride compared the outcomes for women who were in a mixed-gender program to the outcomes for women who later participated in the same program that had become a women-only program with no female-specific content.40 Outcomes were similar between the two samples.
• Treatment for co-occurring disorders may be indicated for the many women with AUD who present with additional mental health concerns.
• Since the National Institutes of Health mandate in 1994 that biomedical research include female participants in clinical research,93 a substantive body of literature emerged describing the unique aspects of AUD among women, which led to an accelerated development of treatments targeting women’s unique clinical presentation.
• In the fetus’s developing digestive system, alcohol breaks down much more slowly than it does in an adult body, meaning that the fetus’s blood alcohol level can remain high for longer periods.

The reality is that these physical symptoms are not symptoms of a hangover. While sleeping, the body metabolizes alcohol, which causes withdrawal symptoms upon waking up. 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. If you can relate to any of the above, there’s a good chance that you have a problem.

• Whilst it is positive that the amount for men has reduced to be considered safe, it gives a false impression that men and women are affected equally.
• Risks include liver disease, breast cancer, heart problems, memory loss, and addiction.
• Treating the whole person is a common goal in treatment plans for women because addressing all their needs simultaneously will enable them to maintain recovery long-term.
• However, knowledge of the Chief Medical Officers’ guidelines was lacking as these guidelines had not been communicated to midwives and there was limited training on alcohol available.
• 79% of women in England reported drinking in the last year and average alcohol consumption among women is nine units a week.

Short Takes With NIAAA: What Are Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders

For one, studies show that there may be sex differences in alcohol pharmacokinetics. Other studies suggest that alcohol’s effect on a woman’s hormonal fluctuations may cause greater harm and damage to their cardiovascular system. Women are more prone to getting alcohol-related heart diseases than men, even if they consume less alcohol. This is a huge problem, as 35.3% of deaths among American women yearly are caused Sober living home by heart diseases. There are many possible reasons why alcohol may have more of an effect on women than men.

• Some of this increase may reflect a greater comfort on the part of women to discuss their drinking.
• An earlier national survey of college women who had experienced sexual victimization found that the severity of the assault was predicted in part by the women’s frequency of intoxication (Ullman et al. 1999).
• The reality is that these physical symptoms are not symptoms of a hangover.
• They are also at greater risk for alcohol-related health problems as they get older due their physiology.

An increase in hormones during this time means some women will experience an increase in alcohol’s effects for more extended periods. Though men are more likely to have a drinking problem, there are unique physical and emotional factors that can lead women to have an unhealthy relationship with alcohol. Our goal is to help you access the care that you need to overcome alcohol use disorder. Having a strong support network is one of the most valuable resources that will keep you on track with your recovery. Women who are struggling with AUD require specific treatments to facilitate their recovery.