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Opinions vary on the definition of alcohol abuse. Abuse can be regular usage that is turning into a dependency. Abuse can also be binge drinking; consuming a large quantity of alcohol in a very short amount of time, but not necessarily every day. Some believe that more than one drink a day for most women is too much. A standard drink is generally considered to be 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits. It is generally believed that on any given day, a woman should have no more than 2 drinks, and that a woman should not drink every day. However, defining abuse is difficult because the pattern of drinking is an important determinant of alcohol-related consequences. So, while data is often collected in terms of the "average number of drinks per week," one drink taken each day may have different consequences than seven drinks taken on a Saturday night.
Alcoholism, also known as alcohol dependence, is a disease. Alcoholism is a chronic, often progressive disease with symptoms that include a strong need to drink despite negative consequences, such as serious job, relationships, or health problems. Like many other diseases, it has a generally predictable course, has recognized symptoms, and is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors that are being increasingly well defined. The four known symptoms are:
No. An alcoholic is dependent upon alcohol. This dependence grows as the disease progresses. A person who abuses alcohol may not be dependent upon it but still drinks excessively. Even if you are not an alcoholic, abusing alcohol has negative results. This includes failure to meet major work, school, or family responsibilities; alcohol-related legal trouble; automobile crashes due to drinking; as well as a variety of medical problems. Under some circumstances, problems can result from even moderate drinking—for example, when driving, during pregnancy, or when taking certain medicines.
It is estimated that of the 15.1 million alcohol-abusing or alcohol-dependent individuals in the United States, approximately 4.6 million (nearly one-third) are women. Women also represent 25% of alcoholism clients in traditional treatment centers in the United States. Women are less likely than men to use or abuse alcohol; however, death rates among female alcoholics are 50 to 100 percent higher than those of their male counterparts.
Yes. Increasing evidence suggests that the detrimental effects of chromic alcohol abuse are more severe for women than men. Women develop alcoholic liver diseases, particularly alcoholic cirrhosis and hepatitis, after a comparatively shorter period of heavy drinking and at a lower level of daily drinking than men. Proportionately, more alcoholic women die of cirrhosis than do alcoholic men. Women also become more intoxicated than do men, after drinking the same amount of alcohol. This is due to differences in body weight and hormone releases. Alcohol dependence and related medical problems, such as brain and liver damage, progress more rapidly in women.
Yes. Menstrual disorders (e.g. painful menstruation, heavy flow, premenstrual discomfort, and irregular or absent cycles) have been associated with chronic heavy drinking. These disorders can have adverse effects on fertility. Further, continued drinking may lead to early menopause.
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) describes the pattern of abnormalities observed in children born to alcoholic mothers. These abnormalities include low birth weight, behavioral dysfunction, brain malformation, physical deformities, and mental retardation. Prenatal alcohol exposure is one of the leading known causes of mental retardation in the Western world. Moderate drinkers can also pass on milder forms of these serious health risks to their children. These are termed fetal alcohol effects (FAE) and can have serious implications in the development of the child. The Centers for Disease Control in the Department of Health and Human Service found that the rate of frequent drinking among pregnant women increased fourfold between 1991 and 1995.
Alcoholism is a disease and has no cure, but can be managed with medical treatment and social support groups. This means that even if an alcoholic has been sober for a long time and has regained health, he or she may relapse, and must continue to avoid all alcoholic beverages. The most common and most effective way to combat alcohol abuse is through a systematic support group, with advice and support from a health care professional.
If you think you may have a drinking problem, talk to your doctor, a close friend, or a family member you trust. It is important to recognize the problem and get help. You can also contact the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment at 1-800-662-HELP. This Center has specific information about treatment programs. Alcoholics Anonymous runs local support meetings and local phone numbers are in the phone book. It takes courage to admit you don't have control over alcohol; asking for help is an important first step.
Research indicates that women can become addicted quickly to certain drugs, such as crack cocaine, even after casual or experimental use. Therefore, by the time a woman enters treatment, she may be severely addicted, making treatment more difficult. This is also true when a woman becomes dependent on prescription painkillers.
Treatment should include an evaluation of other serious health problems associated with drug abuse. For women, some of these problems are:
Many drug-using women do not seek treatment because they are afraid, they worry they won't be able to keep or care for their children, they fear reprisal from their spouses or boyfriends, and they fear punishment from authorities in the community. Many women report that their drug-using male sex partners initiated them into drug abuse and then sabotaged their efforts to quit using drugs.
Yes. AIDS is now the fourth leading cause of death among women of childbearing age in the United States. It is the leading cause of death for African-American women between the ages of 25 and 44. Because HIV/AIDS often is transmitted through shared needles or syringes, women who inject drugs or share drug paraphernalia are at an increased risk of getting the deadly disease. In addition, under the influence of illicit drugs and alcohol, a woman's judgment can become impaired. As a result, women may engage in unprotected sex, which also increases their risk for contracting or transmitting HIV/AIDS. Among the 1.5 million injecting drug users, 14% are known to be infected with HIV.
Research indicates that more than 4 million women need treatment for drug abuse. Unfortunately, there are some significant reasons, as stated above, why many women do not seek help. Research shows that women receive the most benefit from drug treatment programs that provide comprehensive services for meeting their basic needs, including access to:
Traditional male-oriented drug treatment programs may not be appropriate for women because those programs may not provide these services. Research also indicates that for women in particular, treatment is more successful when they stay in regular touch with their treatment provider. When a woman lapses during the treatment and recovery process it is important that they get the support of the community and encouragement of those closest to them. After completing a drug treatment program, women also need services to assist them in sustaining their recovery and in rejoining the community.
A toll-free hotline is available to provide free, confidential answers to women seeking help for themselves or for someone they care about, or to provide referral to a local drug treatment program. The National Drug Information, Treatment, and Referral Line is reached through 1-800-662-HELP (1-800-66-AYUDA for Spanish-speaking callers.) The hotline operates Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 a.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 12 noon to 3 a.m.
Yes, the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information's PREVline is an electronic communication system dedicated to exchanging ideas and information concerning alcohol, tobacco and illicit drug problem prevention. Home pages of federal agencies and services, clearinghouses and other related online services can be accessed through PREVline or directly through the following addresses:
Many people think that lung cancer affects mostly men. But even though we hear more about breast cancer, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in women. And nearly all lung cancer deaths in women are due to smoking. Quitting smoking now is one important change you can make to improve your lung and overall health and live longer. Former smokers have a lower risk for lung cancer than do current smokers. In one to nine months after quitting smoking, your lungs will function better. And after 10 years, your risk of lung cancer is nearly the same as someone who never smoked.
Yes. More women die each year from heart disease than from any other illness. Smoking is the major cause of heart disease in women, especially those younger than age 50. Women who use birth control pills have a much higher risk of heart disease if they smoke. But after just one year of quitting smoking, you reduce your risk of heart disease by half.
Women and girls smoke for different reasons. Some women smoke to deal with stress or control weight. Younger women and girls may start smoking as a way of rebelling, being independent, or fitting in with their peers. Tobacco companies use research on how women and girls feel about themselves to influence women and girls to smoke. But there is never a good reason to smoke, and it's best to never start. There are, though, many good reasons to quit smoking. When you quit, your health and quality of life will improve. You also will help safeguard the health of those you live with by not exposing them to second-hand smoke (the smoke released from a lit cigarette or cigar).
When you quit:
When you smoke, you can become addicted to, or not able to do without, nicotine. Nicotine is as habit-forming as the drugs heroin and cocaine. Over time, you may have problems with your teeth and gums; staining on your teeth, fingers, and fingernails; bad breath; and wrinkling skin. There are also other, more serious health problems, caused by smoking:
Learn about your own risk for health problems, or the risk of a smoker you know. Enter your profile into NCI's Smoker's Risk Calculator at http://cancercontrol.cancer.gov/tcrb/smokersrisk.
Second-hand smoke happens when non-smokers inhale other people's tobacco smoke. It includes:
When a cigarette is smoked, about half of the smoke is sidestream smoke. Sidestream smoke contains most of the same chemicals found in the mainstream smoke inhaled by the smoker. People who don't smoke, but are exposed to second-hand smoke, absorb nicotine and other chemicals just as someone who smokes does. Studies have shown that second-hand smoke can cause lung cancer in healthy adults who do not smoke. Children of parents who smoke are more likely to suffer from pneumonia, bronchitis, ear infections, asthma, and SIDS (the sudden death of a baby under age one which cannot be explained). Mothers who smoke and breastfeed may pass harmful chemicals from nicotine to their baby through breast milk.
No, it's never too late to quit. Quit smoking now to start feeling these benefits.
20 minutes after quitting:
8 hours after quitting:
24 hours after quitting:
2 days after quitting:
2 weeks to 3 months after quitting:
1 to 9 months after quitting:
1 year after quitting:
5 to 15 years after quitting:
10 years after quitting:
15 years after quitting:
If you or someone you know has smoked for a long time, it's still important to quit. Take the Older Smokers IQ Quiz at www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/lung/other/smoking.html to find out more about why quitting smoking now is worth the effort.
Almost half of women who smoke have tried to quit during the past year. Many women have to try two or three times before they are able to quit for good. It's hard work, but don't give up! Millions of women have been able to quit, and you can too!
Follow these steps to help you to quit for good:
There are many medicines that can help you quit smoking. So you don't have to do it alone. At first, you may feel depressed, have trouble sleeping, or just not feel like yourself. This means that your body is going through withdrawal, or getting used to not having nicotine. These symptoms only last a few weeks and medicines can help give you some relief. Most help you quit by giving you small, steady doses of nicotine. Using them can double your chances of quitting for good. Talk with your health care provider about which of these medicines is right for you. Nicotine replacement therapy includes nicotine patches, gum, nasal spray, and inhalers. They help lessen your urge to smoke by taking the place of nicotine from cigarettes.
In general, when you quit smoking, use the nicotine as a "substitute" for one to two months, then gradually cut down the nicotine until you stop that, too. You can buy patches and gum on your own at a drug store. You need a prescription for the inhaler and nasal spray. Bupropion SR (Zyban â) is a medicine that has no nicotine but may help you quit. It is an anti-depressant that helps relieve withdrawal symptoms and the urge to smoke. Your health care provider can prescribe this medicine.
Not everyone can use these medicines. If you are pregnant or have heart problems, be sure to talk with your health care provider before using any of them.
Don't be discouraged if you start smoking again. Most relapses occur within the first three months after quitting. Remember, most women try two or three times before they quit for good. Certain things or situations can increase your chances of smoking again, such as drinking alcohol, being around other people who smoke, gaining weight, and stress. Talk with your health care provider for ways to help avoid or deal with these situations.
Everyone can quit smoking. Think back to why quitting was important to you. Look for a special reason to motivate you to try again.
Many women fear weight gain when they quit smoking. You may gain a little weight, but usually less than 10 pounds. You can help prevent weight gain by eating a healthful diet and staying active. Don't let weight gain distract you from your main goal-quitting smoking. Some people even gain less when they use a quit-smoking medicine.
You may think that "light" cigarettes are less harmful than regular ones. More women than men smoke these brands, mostly due to advertising targeted to women. But they're not better. They put smokers at the same risk for health problems just as regular ones do. Some cigarette packs say that light cigarettes have lower tar and nicotine. Don't let these claims fool you. Cigarette makers use smoking machines to figure out the amount of tar and nicotine in the cigarettes. These machines "smoke" every brand of cigarettes the same way. But people don't smoke cigarettes the same way machines do. People may inhale more deeply, take longer or more frequent puffs, or smoke extra cigarettes to satisfy their nicotine craving. Smokers then inhale more tar, nicotine, and other chemicals than the smoking machine measures. Cigarette makers also put tiny holes in the filters of light cigarettes to dilute the smoke with air. But many smokers block the holes with their fingers or lips, and it's the same as smoking regular cigarettes. Cigarette makers can also make the paper wrapped around the tobacco of light cigarettes burn faster. This is so the smoking machines get in fewer puffs before the cigarettes burn down. The result is that the machine measures less tar and nicotine in the smoke of the cigarette. The bottom line is there is no such thing as a safe cigarette. Quitting for good is the only proven way to reduce your risk of smoking-related problems.
No, they are not safer and can be more dangerous. People who smoke menthol brands can inhale more deeply and take longer puffs than smokers of non-menthol brands.
Yes, cigar smoking increases your risk of dying from many cancers. These include cancer of the lungs, oral cavity (lip, tongue, mouth, and throat), larynx (voice box), and esophagus. Daily cigar smokers are at higher risk for getting heart and lung disease. Even though cigar smoking is not as common for women, it is on the rise. Most new cigar users are teenagers who smoke on occasion. Two studies showed that cigar use has increased nearly five times in women and is also increasing among adolescent girls.
One of the major differences between cigar and cigarette smoking is the amount of tobacco inhaled. Most cigarette smokers smoke every day and inhale. Many cigar smokers smoke only once in a while, and most do not inhale. This may be because cigar smoke is more irritating. But both inhaled and non-inhaled nicotine can be addictive. Cigars have more than four times the amount of nicotine as cigarettes. All cigar and cigarette smokers expose the lips, mouth, tongue, throat, and larynx to smoke whether or not they inhale. Just like cigarettes, cigar smoking can harm people around you. Because cigars have more tobacco than cigarettes due to their larger size and are smoked longer, non-smokers are exposed to higher amounts of second-hand smoke.
It's important to talk with your children about the dangers of smoking. Most adult smokers begin while in their teens or earlier. Smoking is also addictive for children and can cause harm even while they are still young. But we also know how hard it can be to compete with advertising that seems to be everywhere, making smoking look cool and appear to be a normal thing to do. Children and teens try using tobacco for many reasons, like trying to fit in with friends or control weight. The bottom line is that your children need your help to never start or to quit smoking. Here are some tips:
Alcoholics Anonymous
Phone: (212) 870-3400
Internet Address: http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org/
American Cancer Society
Phone Number(s): (404) 329-7520, (800) 227-2345 (24 hours)
Phone services available in English, Spanish, French, German, & Italian
Internet Address: http://www.cancer.org/
American Legacy Foundation
Phone Number(s): 202-454-5555
Internet Address: http://www.americanlegacy.org/
American Lung Association
Phone Number(s): (212) 315-8700, (800) 586-4872 (Calls are automatically routed to the nearest chapter)
Internet Address: http://www.lungusa.org/
Cancer Information Service, NCI, NIH, HHS
Phone Number(s): (800) 422-6237 TTY: (800) 332-8615
Internet Address: http://cis.nci.nih.gov/
>March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation
Phone Number(s): (888) 663-4637
Internet Address: http://www.modimes.org
National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities
Phone Number(s): (888) 232-6789
Internet Address: http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/fas
National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information
Phone (800) 729-6686
Internet Address: http://www.health.org/
National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence
Phone: (800) 622-2255
Internet Address: http://www.ncadd.org/
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Information Center, NHLBI, NIH, HHS
Phone Number(s): (301) 592-8573
(800) 575-9355 (Blood Pressure & TTY: (240) 629-3255 Cholesterol Information)
Internet Address:
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/infoctr/index.htm
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Phone: (301) 443-3860
Internet Address: http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Phone Number(s): (301) 433-3860 (Information Office)
Internet Address: http://www.niaaa.nih.gov
National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Phone: (800) 666-6327
Internet Address:
http://www.castleconnolly.com/familyhealth/topics/pregnancy/fetalalco.html
National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Phone Number(s): (800) 666-6327
Internet Address: http://www.nofas.org/
National Tobacco Quitline, TCRB, NCI, NIH, HHS
Phone Number(s): (877) 448-7848, (877) 44U-QUIT TTY: 1-800-332-8615
Internet Address: http://www.smokefree.gov/talk.html
Office on Smoking and Health, NCCDPHP, CDC, HHS
Phone Number(s): (770) 488-5705 (800) CDC-1311 (Automated Information Request System)
Internet Address: http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/