Women’s Health vs. The Dark Side of Alcohol
Written by Ellina Koo | Edited by Jackie Wang
Recently, the negative impact of alcohol on women’s health has become increasingly concerning in modern society. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), excessive alcohol was associated with more than 43,000 deaths among women. However, this issue has steadily grown in this current generation as individuals have been witnessing a shift in gender dynamics, and societal norms, and decision making that heavily contributes to the increasing trend of alcohol consumption in women. Good Morning America further proves this by stating that the rate of death among women increased more rapidly over the same period, up to 14.7% between 2018 to 2020 versus 12.5% in men over the same two years. Although alcohol consumption may not seem like a huge issue, it’s important to go deeper into the dark side of alcohol and understand the negative consequences it has on women’s health.
There has been scientific proof behind the causes of the drastic increase in alcohol related deaths amongst women in recent years. Dr. Darien Sutton stated that there is a physiological difference between men and women when it comes to the effects of drinking, making women less able to metabolize alcohol as quickly as men. This is the main reason behind the drastic increase in deaths shown in women compared to men during these past few years. Further scientific research proves this statement by adding, “When we digest alcohol, it’s digested with an enzyme called alcohol dehydrogenase,” Sutton said. “Women typically have lower amounts of this enzyme, therefore exposing them to more toxic effects and negative long-term effects. I’m talking about liver disease, pancreatitis, heart failure and also beyond that, lower rates of fertility, earlier menopause and increased rates of colon cancer and breast cancer.” Clearly, more information and awareness is needed to educate women about the life threatening impacts that overconsumption of alcohol plays.
The evolving gender roles and societal norms in this current generation has led to women’s relationship with alcohol being more severe. The dark side of alcohol consumption heavily affects both physical and mental health. However, this issue can come to a pause in the near future if activists and women across the globe make an effort in supporting each other. Some resources that may help with this issue is the National Drug and Alcohol Helpline as well as the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Through raising awareness about the harm that alcohol may have, women across the world can make healthier choices and put their well being first before worrying about societal norms.
LINKS:
1. https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/womens-health.htm
