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Essay on Alcoholism among Women
Of the women in alcoholism treatment programs, 50% are now from the age group of 18 to 34, according to a new study by the Association of Junior Leagues. The three-year study surveyed 598 treatment centers in 39 cities across the United States and Canada to determine the needs of alcoholic women and the facilities necessary to meet those needs. Researchers attribute the rise in problem drinking among young women to social trends that have emerged and accelerated in the past two decades.
They note that as more women have entered the work force, they have become subject to different pressures. And, like many men, young women may turn to alcohol to help them cope with depression and low self-esteem. However, young women who drink heavily are at greater physical risk than men their age with the same habits, the researchers said. Since they typically weigh less and have less muscle mass, they can expect to have more unpleasant side effects, such as vomiting, slurred speech, hangovers, and mood swings, and to develop cirrhosis of the liver at an earlier age.
Alcoholism is the third leading cause of death in American women between the ages of 35 and 55 years, and suicide, alcohol-related accidents and liver disease are more common among female than male alcoholics. The epidemiology, related social factors, medical complications, diagnosis, and treatment of alcoholism in women are reviewed. The rate of alcoholism in women varies with socioeconomic, racial, and marital status. Homemakers and full-time workers are less likely to be dependent on alcohol than part-time workers, and blacks and poor women are also less likely to be dependent. Social pressures affect drinking patterns more in women than men, and women who drink develop lower self-esteem than men who drink. Women drink more at home than men, and they are more likely to drink in response to stress in the environment......
