A recent study highlights the more significant risks incurred by women who over-drink, compared to men and even to other non-drinking women. In short, women’s alcohol abuse can have more drastically severe consequences than men’s.
At Recovery Ranch, we believe women should always be supported in their journey to overcoming addiction. We understand that each person’s experience with substance use is unique, and we are committed to providing compassionate care for all individuals who come through our doors. Get started at our women’s alcohol rehab center today by calling 1.844.876.7680.
The Effects of Alcohol Addiction on Women: One Study’s Results
The German study was long-range, extending over a 14-year period. The study included over 4,000 subjects between the ages of 18 and 64. Within the study group, 153 subjects were considered alcohol-dependent. Only 149 of these subjects could be successfully tracked over the 14-year life of the study. That 149-member segment was made up of 119 alcohol-dependent men and 30 alcohol-dependent women. Each person’s alcohol dependency was determined using the German diagnostic standards.
The longitudinal study was particularly helpful in defining how alcohol addiction impacts women. Perhaps the most important thing learned was that alcohol dependency shortens a woman’s lifespan considerably. Alcohol-dependent women experienced an annual death rate that was 4.6 times greater than that for non-drinking women. And, even though alcohol-dependent men also died sooner, their annual death rates increased only 1.9 times.
The Deadly Effects of Alcohol Abuse on Women
Part of the reason that women’s alcohol abuse is more dangerous has to do with their metabolism. Women, having slower metabolisms, are more vulnerable to the effects of alcohol. A woman can consume fewer alcoholic beverages and still experience the ill effects comparable to a man who drinks more.
Women not only experience the negative effects of alcohol more readily on each occasion, but the abuse over the years accumulates more quickly for them as well. The fact that it takes women longer to metabolize the toxins in alcohol leaves them more vulnerable to liver disease, heart disease, brain damage, and breast cancer.
Alcohol abuse appeared to be the study’s strongest determiner of life expectancy. Those with alcohol dependency could expect to have 20 fewer years of life than non-drinkers. Women need to be especially careful when it comes to alcohol use. Women who drink three alcoholic beverages per day are considered high-risk drinkers. And, unlike some other mental health conditions, women are more hesitant to seek help for alcohol abuse. Whether due to shame or a desire to protect loved ones from pain, women who suffer most from alcohol addiction are the least likely to get help overcoming the problem.
The Importance of Women’s Alcohol Abuse Treatment
The importance of alcohol addiction treatment for women cannot be understated. Alcohol addiction can have devastating effects on both physical and mental health, making it essential that women receive the help they need to break the cycle of addiction.
By entering addiction treatment, women can develop the skills they need to create a lasting foundation of recovery. Through individual and group therapy, women learn to identify their triggers and how to cope with them in healthy ways. With this newfound knowledge, women can take back control of their lives and start making positive changes to help them reach sobriety and stay there.
A Women’s Alcohol Rehab Center at Recovery Ranch
Recovery Ranch in Nunnelly, TN provides a comprehensive alcohol addiction treatment program for women. The program is tailored to meet the specific needs of each individual, helping women to identify and address triggers, develop healthy coping skills, and create lasting foundations of recovery.
We provide individualized care and treatment plans to help women overcome their addictions and build the skills they need for a successful life in sobriety. Our staff of counselors, therapists, psychiatrists, and addiction specialists are committed to helping each woman find lasting healing from alcohol abuse to live out her full potential in recovery.
Get started today by calling 1.844.876.7680 or contacting us online.
