Alcohol Killing More Young Women

Postpartum depression triggered Ashley Hartshorn’s alcohol use disorder – and, after just five years of alcohol abuse, she died leaving her three children behind. 

"She wanted so badly to quit drinking, but the shame and the fear kept her from being able to allow herself to reach out for help," Ashley’s mother told USA Today. "Like many, we were ignorant to the effects that alcohol has on the body. I thought she had time, time to hit rock bottom and time to seek help.” 

Amy Durham, who grew up with a father who abused alcohol, began drinking in her 30s and said she came close to dying from alcohol at age 40. She wound up in triple organ failure and in a coma for 10 days. 

"I didn't even know what was happening to me," she told USA Today. Amy said unresolved childhood trauma, a stressful job, a “toxic” romantic relationship and infertility all contributed to her drinking. “I just needed to be numb,” she said. 

Nurse practitioner and mother of two Eileen O'Grady, who quit drinking 12 years ago, said she would drink continually from dinner until bedtime and then start again the next evening. Stefanie Wilder-Taylor, writer of "Sippy Cups Are Not for Chardonnay," believes this sort of alcohol abuse stems from stubborn gender roles and norms surrounding stress. 

Unfortunately, these stories are becoming more and more common as deaths related to alcohol are increasing – with women being hit the hardest. According to a new analysis by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington, from 2007 to 2017, alcohol-related deaths rose 85 percent among women. During the same period, death rates rose among men by 29 percent and teen deaths from drinking were down about 16 percent.

Experts are calling alcohol a growing epidemic, outpacing the death toll of our current opioid crisis. To date, roughly 72,000 people die of opioid overdose each year versus roughly 88,000 from alcohol – through cancer, liver cirrhosis, pancreatitis, pregnancy related complications and suicide.

Women are more susceptible to these alcohol-related risks than men - and, what's worse, less than 6 percent of female drinkers get help for an alcohol disorder.

Help for Women With Alcohol Use Disorder 

While there’s a growing pressure to drink, problem drinking is still stigmatized. But greater awareness and efforts to seek treatment can help remedy this. If you’re concerned about your drinking and want help, or want to learn more about our rehab services for women, call today: 866-746-1558.

Why Are More Women Than Ever Addicted to Alcohol

It’s not news that alcohol use disorder is on the rise among women, with the rate of female alcohol abuse and dependence in the United States increasing 83.7 percent between 2002 and 2013, according to a major study by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). But what’s causing this increase? Why are women drinking more? And why should we be so worried?

“Some of the data we’re seeing indicates historic increases in consumption and alcohol problems,” Katherine Keyes, an associate professor of epidemiology at Columbia University, told Prevention.com. “The trajectory for female alcohol abuse now outpaces that of men. When we see these steep increases, you wonder if we are going to see a larger burden of disease for women.”

And for good reason: High-risk drinking—more than three drinks on a given day or more than seven per week, according to NIAAA—is linked to some 200 diseases, including cancers and psychiatric disorders. And, in general, women are hit harder than men when it comes to these adverse health effects. 

As far as why women are drinking more, the article on Prevention.com had some interesting findings. Here’s a quick recap: 

More alcohol companies are marketing to women. From Skinnygirl to Mommy Juice, more and more brands are targeting their spirits to women buyers.

Women feel pressure to fit in and crave camaraderie: Bar hopping or “Martini nights” with the girls have become more and more socially accepted. These nights “built-around a bottle” are also how many women are connecting to one another today.

Women are more stressed over work-life balance: More women hit the bottle in an effort to quell anxiety over the increasingly difficult work-life balance, according to Prevention.com. And this isn’t too surprising considering that women of working age work longer hours and are unhappier today than their mothers were 40 years ago. 

Women are trying to cope with mental illness. Whether depression or anxiety or empty nest syndrome, many women are struggling with emotional issues and using alcohol as a means to self-medicate or escape negative feelings. 

Help for Women With Alcohol Use Disorder 

While there’s a growing pressure to drink, problem drinking is still stigmatized. But greater awareness and efforts to seek treatment can help remedy this. If you’re concerned about your drinking and want help, or want to learn more about our rehab services for women, call today: 866-746-1558.