Many aspects of life are different for women than they are for men. Though men report higher rates of alcoholism, many women face alcohol-related problems unique from those that men face.[1] To provide the best support, facilities that offer alcohol rehabilitation in Arizona must consider those issues when designing gender-specific treatment programs.
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) can profoundly impact a person’s health, relationships, and quality of life regardless of their income, social status, or biology. Addiction treatment programs for women may address not only biological issues but also the societal pressures that women face and how alcohol addiction can impact women’s health.
Alcohol Rehabilitation in Arizona: Women and Alcohol Consumption
Each person is different, both in their tolerance level and in their physical makeup. In many cases, smaller women experience more serious effects from alcohol than larger men. However, depending on the person’s physical makeup, the opposite could also be true.
Two people of the same size who drink roughly the same amount may tolerate alcohol differently, no matter their gender. However, the average effects of gender on alcohol use are significant enough that health authorities have recognized them: U.S. Dietary Guidelines have different recommendations for moderate drinking when it comes to women vs. men.[2]
To minimize health risks, the guidelines recommend that women limit alcohol intake to one or fewer drinks a day; in contrast, they say that men can safely consume up to two drinks per day. These guidelines differ even more when it comes to heavy drinking, defining “heavy” as eight or more drinks per week for women and 15 or more for men.
Why are these differences so prominent? Researchers continue to study this issue, but they have linked the following factors to safe alcohol consumption levels in men vs. women:
- Differences in liver function
- Lower water content in women’s bodies, which causes different absorption and disbursement rates
- Lower average weights for women
- Differences in gastric emptying function, which takes longer in women
The different ways in which women metabolize alcohol means that women tend to get intoxicated more quickly than men, which subjects their bodies to the health risks of high blood alcohol levels.
In addition, while fewer women than men develop AUD, the disease develops faster for many women. On average, women begin drinking alcohol at a later age than most men, but their alcohol dependence progresses quickly.[3] This behavior is often referred to as “telescoping.”
Alcohol Rehabilitation in Arizona on Women, Alcohol, and Societal Pressure
There is a strong link between substance abuse and mood disorders.[4] Researchers estimate that around 32% of people with depression also have a substance use disorder such as alcoholism. Women are twice as likely as men to suffer from depression, and these women are, therefore, at greater risk for developing a substance use disorder.[5]
Both men and women face societal pressures that deserve examination. Societal expectations frequently place women in a no-win situation. Many communities devalue the work of women who become homemakers and mothers. However, they may also criticize women who pursue careers for prioritizing work over their families’ needs.
Women frequently deal with other serious and harmful issues, such as social inequality, earning disparities, exposure to violence, and poverty. Researchers have shown that these issues increase rates of depression, which may lead to self-medication with alcohol or drugs.
Men and women also tend to have different coping styles. Some studies suggest women are more likely to have a ruminative coping style. This mindset can negatively impact mental health and potentially increase the risk of depression.[6]
When they begin their recovery from substance use disorder, many women seek out outpatient or residential treatment programs that acknowledge these types of societal pressures. Programs that teach the coping skills necessary for protecting women’s mental health may be more effective.
Alcohol and Women’s Health
Alcohol use disorder affects a woman’s physical health in ways that it does not affect men. In general, women who misuse alcohol develop more alcohol-related medical problems than men — even if they consume less alcohol overall.[6] Recovery programs must include medical care that addresses the physical damage prolonged AUD can cause to a woman’s body.
Liver Health
Even if they consume the same amount, women are more likely than men to develop alcohol-related hepatitis.[7] This type of hepatitis is potentially fatal.
Heart Health
Researchers once focused on the effects of heart disease and AUD on men, considering them to be primarily male diseases. However, alcohol misuse is the leading cause of heart disease in women.[8]
Brain Health
Research suggests that alcohol impacts the brains of adolescent boys and girls differently and may cause brain damage more quickly in women.[8] Women are also at a higher risk for having blackouts while intoxicated due to alcohol’s effect on the hippocampus.[9]
Breast Health
Consuming even one serving of alcohol per day can increase a woman’s risk of breast cancer by as much as 15%.[10]
Prenatal Health
No amount of alcohol is considered safe for women who are trying to become pregnant or who are pregnant. Exposing a fetus to alcohol could result in a variety of cognitive, behavioral, and physical problems, including fetal alcohol syndrome.[11]
Do You Need Alcohol Rehabilitation in Arizona?
If you or a woman you know is looking for alcohol rehabilitation in Arizona, Desert Cove Recovery is here to help. Our treatment center offers programs that address each individual’s unique needs. Contact Desert Cove Recovery today to learn more about alcohol rehab for women.
Sources:
[1] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2756494/ [2] https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/alcohol/info [3] https://www.uspharmacist.com/article/alcohol-dependence-in-women [4] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2851027/ [5] https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2Fbul0000102 [6] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26371405/ [7] https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/2/993 [8] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15303629/ [9] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27012148/ [10] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28546524/ [11] https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/understanding-fetal-alcohol-spectrum-disorders
