Substance Abuse – The New Threat to Women
Substance abuse amongst women has many devastating effects not only in their body and life, but also in their family as a whole. It has many forms like smoking, drinking and drug abusing. During last decade and especially in last few years it has become an epidemic, which seems to uncontrolled. Since 1980, when the first Surgeon General’s Report on smoking by women was released, three million women have died prematurely because of smoking. In fact, nearly 165,000 women die prematurely each and every year because of smoking. That’s one every three-and-a-half minute.
As compared to males the repercussions in females are higher as it affects not only females but their unborn and newborn babies as well. As a result we’re losing our mothers, grandmothers, sisters, and wives too soon directly because they smoked. It’s affecting our families, our businesses, our economy, our communities and even our nation as a whole .
In addition to lung cancer, these women suffered heart disease and emphysema, decreased lung function and pancreatic cancer. They are at greater risk for hip fractures because of lower bone density, and increased risks of Crohn’s disease and arthritis.
Women who smoke suffer from conception delay and for both primary and secondary infertility. And women who smoke during pregnancy increase the risk of stillbirths, neonatal deaths, sudden infant death syndrome, and tend to have babies with lower birth weight than normal. More women die today because of lung cancer than breast cancer. Today, lung cancer accounts for one out of every four cancer-related deaths among women. This is a very powerful reminder of the devastating impact smoking has on women.
Especially during the last decade the problem of substance abuse in women including alcohol, smoking and drugs has been much dangerous than ever. Substance abuse is a critical women’s health issue that must be addressed on all fronts. We must begin this battle in schools before girls even begin to start entering the substance abuse, and we must share with teen-age girls that smoking and drinking are not only harmful, but it is not glamorous as well.
In addition, we must provide information to women and minority groups detailing the harmful affects of smoking as well as the benefits of smoking cessation. The facts are inexorable. Smoking significantly reduces life expectancy and hampers quality of life. This is a message that must be shared at all fronts.
Let’s see some facts regarding women and substance abuse from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services :
• Although women drink less than men, the number of women who do drink is significant. Estimates indicate that of the 15.1 million people who abuse alcohol or are alcohol-dependent, 4.6 million are women. That means that roughly one-third of alcoholics are women.
• The number of women who report using illicit drugs is alarming, although women are less likely to use illicit drugs than men. Five percent of women and 8 percent of men report having used illicit drugs during the last 30 days.
• In 1989, 43 percent of drug abuse patients admitted to emergency rooms were female and 56 percent were male.
• Cigarette use among women has decreased at the rate of about 1 percent each year since 1985. Use during the last 30 days by women was at 24.2 percent in 1990, down from a 1985 figure of 28.1 percent.
• Women who drink heavily or are alcoholic are more likely to become victims of the alcohol-related aggression of others, such as date rape.
• Drinking varies among women of different racial or ethnic backgrounds. African American women were more likely to abstain from drinking alcohol (66.9 percent) than White women (52.6 percent) during the month prior to their interview.
• Hispanic women drink infrequently and are more likely than White or African American women to abstain from drinking; however, this may change as they enter new social and work arenas. Abstention rates are greater among Hispanic women who have immigrated to the United States than among younger, American-born Hispanic women.
• Marital status influences drinking habits. Single, divorced, or separated women are more likely to drink heavily and experience alcohol-related problems than women who are married or widowed. Unmarried women who are living with a significant other are most likely to develop drinking problems.
• Despite their relatively low consumption levels, women account for nearly one-half of cirrhosis deaths among American Indians.
• According to a 1990 household survey, 0.5 percent of women had used cocaine during the last 30 days. That is a large decrease from a similar 1985 study, which estimated that 2 percent of women had used cocaine during the past month.
• In 40 percent of 1989 emergency room episodes involving female patients, the motive for using drugs was suicide, compared to 20 percent of male emergency room episodes.
• The impact of alcohol appears to be greater upon women than men.
• Abuse of prescribed tranquilizers is more frequent among women than men. In 1989, emergency room episodes resulting from Valium were 4.1 percent for females and 2.5 percent for males.
• Women are more susceptible to alcohol-related liver damage. They develop liver disease in a shorter period of time and at lower levels of consumption. The number of alcoholic women who develop alcohol-related liver disease is higher than among alcoholic men.
• Repeated or sustained episodes of alcohol intoxication may suppress hormonal activity in women. Studies suggest that there is a higher prevalence of menstrual dysfunction and accelerated onset of menopause among alcoholic women. Other problems such as obstetrical disorders and gynecological surgery are also more common.
• In 1990, 4 percent of women reported using marijuana during the past month while 6 percent of men did. This number is the same as a similar 1989 study, which indicated that 4 percent of women had used marijuana in the past 30 days.
• Young women between the ages of 16 and 22 are more likely to smoke cigarettes than their male counterparts.
• Over 4.8 million (8 percent) of the 60.1 million women 15-44 years of age (the childbearing years), have used an illicit drug in the past month. Slightly over 500,000 (0.9) used cocaine and 3.9 million (6.5 percent) used marijuana in the past month.
• It is estimated that the number of women in the United States who drink has increased significantly over the last 40 years and that heavy drinking has increased among young, employed women. As many as 16 percent of these women may be consuming three to five drinks per day.
• More than 80 percent of cases of AIDS in women are associated with intravenous drug abuse. Under the influence of alcohol and other drugs, people help to spread AIDS by engaging in high-risk sexual activity with people who are IV drug abusers or HIV carriers.
• It is estimated that the number of women in the United States who drink has increased significantly over the last 40 years and that heavy drinking has increased among young, employed women. As many as 16 percent of these women may be consuming three to five drinks per day.
• More than 80 percent of cases of AIDS in women are associated with intravenous drug abuse. Under the influence of alcohol and other drugs, people help to spread AIDS by engaging in high-risk sexual activity with people who are IV drug abusers or HIV carriers.
Women who drink heavily during pregnancy are at risk of having babies with a condition called fetal alcohol syndrome, which can result in growth deficiencies, nervous system problems, lowered intelligence, and facial abnormalities in the child. There is some evidence that pregnant women who drink more than 10 units a week are more likely to have underweight babies. It is not known if there is an absolutely safe limit for drinking during pregnancy, but it may be wise to avoid alcohol altogether.
Alcoholism not only affects women in conceiving and pregnancy but it also has psychological effects on them. Although alcohol initially makes people feel relaxed, long-term excessive use can ultimately increase anxiety and cause depression. It is also related to problems with sleeping, mood swings, violence and suicide (about two-thirds of suicide attempts are thought to involve alcohol) . Alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence are not only adult problems — they also affect a significant number of adolescents and young adults between the ages of 12 and 20, even though drinking under the age of 21 is illegal.
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