WOMEN AND ALCOHOLISM

Women and Alcoholism

Women and Alcoholism

Introduction Alcoholism can be defined as a progressive and chronic disease involving compulsive drinking of alcoholic beverages. An alcoholic will continue to consume alcohol despite the harmful effects it has on himself/herself. These harmful effects may be physical, psychological, or social.

In determining the drinking patterns of people in general, genetic heritage, social class, occupational and social roles, and family history of alcohol use all play a major part However, a variety of biopsychosocial variables are distinctively related to women's use of alcohol. Hesselbrock and Hesselbrock (1997) commenting on the factors that increase women's risk for alcohol problems include 'women's greater propensity to experience negative affective states' (e.g., depression). Many studies have found that women who suffered childhood sexual abuse are more likely to have drinking problems. Wilsnack et al (1997) agrees to this as he says 'negative life events such as physical and sexual victimization during childhood or adulthood.

Alcoholism affects women

According to a publication by the NIAAA on alcohol and women in 1990, women are more likely to seek treatment because of family problems. When a pregnant woman drinks alcohol, so does her baby. The alcohol enters her blood stream and then, through the placenta, enters the blood supply of the growing baby. Once the alcohol reaches the growing baby's blood supply, it interferes with the healthy development of the unborn child.

Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is completely preventable but once developed, it tragically affects its victims and families. Babies born with FAS tend to weigh less and are shorter than the average baby. They usually suffer from smaller heads, deformed facial features, abnormal joints and limbs, poor coordination, problems with learning and short memories.

The picture to the left compares a “normal” brain of a six-week-old baby (left) to a six-week-old baby's brain with FAS (right). People with FAS often experience mental health problems, disrupted school experience, inappropriate sexual behavior, trouble with the law, alcohol and drug problems, homelessness, and difficulty in caring for themselves and any children.

There is absolutely no evidence that light drinking, even on a daily basis, leads to FAS. Most women who are light or moderate drinkers choose not to drink during pregnancy. Frequent heavy drinkers tend to be the real problem. These are the alcoholics consuming heavily on a daily basis throughout their pregnancies. Women who give birth to FAS children usually smoke, use illegal drugs, are frequently malnourished, and rarely receive proper medical care during pregnancy. Studies show that drinking during pregnancy has not declined among these women over time.

Is there a safe level of alcohol consumption for pregnant women? 400,000 American women were involved in a recent study conducted by The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Each woman had consumed alcohol during pregnancy and not a single case of FAS occurred when consumption was under 8.5 drinks per week. There is clear evidence that no apparent risk is taken when a pregnant woman consumes no more than one drink per ...