Alcohol:
"I drank, because wanted to drown my sorrows, but now the damned things have learned to swim."
- Frida Kahlo
• How often do you drink alcohol?
• Do you drink in a safe environment or with people you trust?
• Have you ever thought about how alcohol affects your physical and mental health?
• Are you concerned that maybe you or your friends have a drinking problem?
The fact of the matter is that alcohol is a depressant and a widely abused substance. On college campuses alcohol is extremely prevalent and accessible. Consuming alcohol is your choice, but always remember that alcohol decreases inhibitions, impairs judgment, incites violence, induces sickness, may cause severe health implications, and may result in addiction. When too much alcohol is consumed or when alcohol is mixed with other substances the outcome can be fatal.
Always keep in mind that problem drinkers are not necessarily defined by the amount of alcohol they drink, but rather by the way they use alcohol and its effect on their health, behavior, and relationships. Learn about alcohol facts and assess your alcohol use by reading on.
| Women & Alcohol Fact Sheet |
• Women become more intoxicated than men do after consuming equivalent amounts of alcohol even when they have the same body weight. Women have lower water and higher fat contents in their bodies than men, which causes higher concentrations of alcohol to enter a woman's bloodstream. In addition, enzymes that help metabolize alcohol are less efficient in women than in men.
• Many studies indicate that moderate to heavy alcohol consumption increases the risk for breast cancer.
• Other risks associated with heavy alcohol consumption by women include infertility, failure to ovulate, premature menopause, ulcers, osteoporosis, pancreatitis, and pathologic ovary changes.
• Women are more susceptible to the influence of alcohol just prior to or during menstruation than at other times.
• While women tend to stay with alcohol-abusing husbands, husbands are much more likely to leave alcohol-abusing wives.
• Women more frequently use prescription drugs in combination with alcohol, creating a potentially fatal combination of chemicals in the body.
• Habitual drinking in women is associated with infertility, miscarriage and stillbirths, as well as fetal alcohol syndrome and fetal alcohol effects.
• Women drink primarily in relation to life crises, or to relieve loneliness, feelings of inferiority, and conflicts about their sex role, regardless of their lifestyle.
• Women have a higher chance of becoming sexually victimized after they have consumed alcohol. A high percentage of attackers admit to being under the influence when they committed sexual assault. Attackers include strangers, intimates, and friends.
• Alcohol impairs judgement. For example almost 60% of college women who contract STD's including HIV, have had sex under the influence of alcohol.
Alcoholism is far from uncommon. It is simply that many people, especially women, hide their problem to protect themselves from the social stigma associated with it.
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1. Is there a history of alcoholism in your biological family?
2. Have you experienced two or more blackouts from drinking within the past year?
3. Have you experienced a personality change since you started drinking?
4. Have you had more than one alcohol or drug related arrest?
5. Has someone close to you expressed concern about your drinking?
6. Have you expressed concern for yourself?
7. Do you drink to build your self-confidence?
8. Do you drink to escape from worries or troubles?
9. Do you drink to escape stressful situations?
10. Do you feel guilty after drinking?
11. Do you ever try to drink less or stop drinking and fail?
12. Do you hide your drinking or the number of beverages you drink?
13. Do you often prefer to drink alone rather than with others?
14. Do you drink when you get angry with other people?
15. Are your grades dropping because of drinking?
16. Is your school or work attendance dropping because of your drinking?
17. Is your work performance deteriorating because of your drinking?
18. Have you ever had memory loss as a result of your drinking?
19. Do you find yourself drinking to be "the life of the party"?
20. Do you experience intense mood swings when drinking?
21. Do you become violent or out of control when drinking?
22. Do you avoid parties or situations where you know alcohol will not be served?
23. Do you want a drink the next morning after a night of drinking?
24. Do you turn to more "obliging" companions when drinking?
25. Do you binge drink (i.e. drink heavily on weekends after not drinking during the week)?
26. Is excessive drinking affecting your reputation?
27. Have you gotten into financial difficulties as a result of your drinking practices?
28. Has anyone confronted you about your drinking problem?
29. Do you often get drunk when you drink, even when you plan not to?
30. Are you pre-occupied with when you can have your next drink?
31. Can you control how much you drink?
Your Results: If you answered "YES" to a majority of the above questions you most likely have a drinking problem. If you answered "YES" to a few of these questions you are at a high risk of developing an alcohol problem.Hopefully this self-assessment will help you recognize if you are alcohol dependent or an alcohol abuser.
Alcoholism is an addiction to alcohol, while alcohol abuse is controlled but excessive drinking bouts without any dependence on alcohol. Alcohol abuse can lead to alcoholism. Alcoholism is a disease that must be dealt with. There are many resources available for you to cope with alcoholism and regain control over your life. You may want to start with the Center for Health and Counseling Services on campus.
Information provided by: Women Alcohol: Referral, Information, Outreach, Reinforcement (WARIOR).
The Advancement of Women's Health Research
Woman to Woman
