Alcohol-Related Deaths Rising Among Women

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that more than 140,000 people died each year from 2015-2019 due to alcohol-related causes. Although alcohol-related deaths in men are more than double that of women, new research indicates the gap is narrowing.

A recent study published by JAMA Network Open saw alcohol-related deaths rising among both sexes; however, alcohol-related deaths in women are trending at a significantly higher rate of increase than men. From 2018 to 2020, alcohol-related deaths increased by 12.5% per year in men, but 14.7% per year in women.

Researchers speculate a combination of sociocultural, economic, biological, and behavioral considerations may be responsible. Yet, equally concerning is the physical and mental toll it is taking on women’s health.

Can this troubling trend be reversed? Furthermore, how do you gauge the severity of your own drinking habits to avoid a similar fate?

Why Female Alcohol-Related Deaths Are Increasing

Alcohol-related deaths are rising among women, but why? Experts believe changes in women’s drinking behaviors may play an important role.

Over the last century, it has become more socially acceptable for women to consume alcohol. As a result, women are drinking at higher amounts with greater frequency. This coupled with an increase in harmful drinking patterns, like binge drinking, could account for rising mortality rates.

Additionally, the motivation for drinking is an important factor. People often drink in response to stress or anxiety at work and home. The surge of alcohol-related deaths in women parallels growing stress-related disorders among women in recent years.

For example, CDC data shows alcohol-related deaths in women rose 27% from 2019 to 2020, no doubt caused by stress — employment insecurity, additional responsibilities at home, childcare burdens — and isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Biology also contributes to a woman’s ability to metabolize alcohol. Women, by nature, have less fluid in their bodies to dilute alcohol. This results in a higher blood alcohol concentration, making women more susceptible to alcohol-related health complications.

Alcohol Consumption and Women’s Health

Although men are likelier to drink alcohol and generally consume more than women, the CDC warns that excessive alcohol use by women poses unique health risks.

Among those dangers include cirrhosis and other alcohol-related liver diseases, which are more prominent in women. Women experience cognitive decline and shrinkage of the brain due to alcohol overuse more rapidly too.

Women who drink in excess also run a risk for damage to the heart muscles at lower levels of consumption and over fewer years than men. What’s more, alcohol abuse furthers the likelihood of certain cancers, including breast cancer in women.

Similarly, women who drink during pregnancy may have a baby with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, which can cause severe disabilities and birth defects. Drinking while pregnant is linked to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, and sudden infant death syndrome as well.

But the ramifications of alcohol consumption and women’s health extend beyond physical ailments. Alcohol addiction in women is marked by anxiety, hopelessness, alcohol-induced psychosis, panic disorders, and depression. And long-term alcohol addiction destroys emotions, relationships, and entire lives.

Alcohol Intervention Is Key

Alcohol addiction in women and men is defined as the obsessive and unmanageable use of alcohol, regardless of its negative impact on a drinker’s fitness, profession, and relationships. To address rising alcohol-related deaths in women, the JAMA study concludes that targeted interventions and evidence-based treatment are essential.

How do you know whether you need professional intervention or should seek treatment? This questionnaire may help you out. While it is by no means a diagnostic, it may make you more aware of your drinking habits.

In addition, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAA) cautions that some women should avoid alcohol entirely. Be advised, especially if you answer yes to any of the following prompts:

• Are you taking any medications that contraindicate with alcohol?
• Are you managing a medical condition that could be made worse by drinking?
• Are you under the legal drinking age of 21?
• Are you recovering from alcohol use disorder (AUD)?
• Are you pregnant, or do you plan to become pregnant?

Perhaps you do not fall into the above categories but are sober curious or “rethinking drinking.” The NIAA offers valuable resources on how to make a change sooner than later, including a pros/cons interactive worksheet and strategies for cutting back.

Get Help for Alcohol Addiction at Willow House

If you have determined to pursue professional help regarding your drinking habits, or are unsure what you need, our caring staff at Willow House at The Meadows can help you out. We have a proven track record of coming alongside hurting women to help them heal from a variety of traumas, addictions, and disorders. Our customized treatment plans are tailored to meet your specific needs so you can be restored back to health. Reach out to learn more about our individualized care so you start a journey to healing and freedom today.