The overuse and misuse of alcohol is rampant today in the United States.  People of all ages are drinking in risky ways, leading to family problems, injuries, addictions, and even death.  Certainly, not every person who drinks alcohol abuses it or develops alcoholism.  However, alcohol has the potential to do serious damage to both women and men, girls and boys.

Alcoholism or Alcohol Abuse

You can tell alcohol abuse from alcoholism in a few clear ways.  Alcohol abuse is harmful but generally not life devastating, or can be more limited to events rather than established destructive patterns.  This can include being irresponsible with commitments, putting oneself or others at risk (such as driving while intoxicated), and legal problems.

Alcoholism involves drug seeking behavior (rearranging activities and money in order to constantly get an alcohol supply), and preoccupation with drinking or drinking activities, harmful changes to many areas of a person’s life, an ever increasing need for more alcohol to feel drunk or “wasted”, and a very high tolerance to the effects of alcohol.

For the moment, I’ll use the term “women” to include the millions of girls who begin drinking in their childhood or teen years.  It is known that alcohol affects women differently than men.  Unfortunately, alcohol does damage to women more easily and with smaller amounts than for men.  Women are also more at risk for health problems resulting from heavy drinking such as high blood pressure, cirrhosis of the liver, poor nutrition, and a much higher risk for breast cancer. (more…)