Alcoholism

Younger Women at Risk for Alcohol Use Disorders

According to a recent study looking at different birth groups and differences in gender relating to alcohol consumption, women are now narrowing the gap between men with alcohol-related problems. Many experts in this area say that people who were born after WWII are more apt to partake in binge drinking and develop an alcohol use disorder, or AUD, according to an article in Medical News Today.

There are many factors that influence one’s likelihood to drink, including personal, societal, economic, political and social norms which may vary at times and lead to so called “drinking cultures.” Katherine M. Keyes, at Columbia University, says that literature on consumption of alcohol shows that younger women are at an increasing risk for developing an AUD and there is a need for more interventions.

Women have experienced many different cultural and societal changes in the last 50 or 60 years. Many have given them opportunities that were once only available to men, according to Richard A. Grucza, an epidemiologist with the School of Medicine at Washington University. Grucza adds that social and cultural issues are some of the most influential determinants of alcohol consumption as well as other healthy behaviors.

Women are now involved in drinking cultures that take place on campus, at work and other places and it is important for them to be aware of the health and social risks that are associated with binge drinking. Women are more vulnerable to sexual assaults and violence related to drinking and they also have a greater risk for developing a chronic disease.

Doctors and health professionals need to be aware of these risks and help with intervention methods as this problem continues to rise among women.