Archive for September, 2012

It IS About Gender! Why Alcohol-Abuse Is An Even Bigger Problem For Young Women

Posted on Sep 18, 2012

Young women these days appear to be befriending the booze much more than ever before. According to a 2010 report, the incidence of alcohol-impaired driving in the last 30 days more than tripled for young women aged 21-34 years as compared to women older than 35 years of age in the US.

While young women may enjoy the highs of being intoxicated, this is a cause for great concern. Though drinking is far from being healthy for anyone, young women sit quite ahead on the disadvantages end. In case you’re wondering, here’s why:

1. Alcohol Affects Women Differently Than Men

We’re not talking about the short-lived high it gives, but we’re talking about the serious health consequences. The more water that is available in the body, the more diluted the alcohol will be. Since women weigh less than men, the water levels in their bodies are less than that in men. This means the same amount of alcohol would have a greater effect on a woman’s organs than a man’s. That’s why dietary guidelines restrict moderate drinking to just a drink a day for women, relative to two for men.

2. Alcohol Can Be Very Harmful For Pregnant Women

Drinking while pregnant can cause mental impairment in the fetus, besides various other harmful effects. Since young women are in their fertile ages, they put themselves particularly at risk. One may argue that they can give up on drinking when they fall pregnant, but the real concern arises from the fact that most of the times women do not even know they are pregnant till at least the 4th or 5th week. If you’re already in the habit and of a fertile age, it pays not to get into heavy drinking.

3. Women Become More Prone To Violence And Sexual Assault

Intoxicated and under the influence of heavy drinking, women are particularly vulnerable to unwanted sexual advances and sexual assault. Unplanned and unsafe sex are also not uncommon among young college-going women when they are under the influence of alcohol. Your best bet as a young woman would be to avoid heavy drinking, even occasionally and to shield yourself from such incidents as much as possible.

4. Risk Of Alcohol-Related Diseases Is Greater Amongst Women

Disease like alcoholic hepatitis, cirrhosis, alcohol-induced brain damage and heart disease are the bane of alcoholics. However, the risk of developing these diseases is greater for men than for women. In fact, studies also report greater risk for breast cancer amongst women who indulge in heavy drinking. If you don’t want to suffer from a serious, long-term illness later in life, keep your hands off the bottle.

The legal drinking age in the US is 21, but drinking among teenagers is not unheard of either. Though younger women in the 21-35 age bracket need to be careful, adults need to keep an eye on teenage girls around them too. Don’t give away your precious life to drinking. Be safe, be alcohol-free!

Alcohol Abuse Is A Dangerous Obsession. Express Yourself

Posted on Sep 10, 2012

Alcohol Action New Zealand (AANZ) began with just a few individuals who recognized the harmful effects alcohol abuse and excessive consumption were having on their society. Having worked in addiction treatment they had front row seats to the life sapping drama that alcohol can unleash in people’s lives.

Societies across the world are increasingly falling prey to the ills of alcohol abuse and it is almost becoming an obsession. From enjoying a beer during a football game or a glass of wine with dinner, the trend has rapidly accelerated to incessant drinking. More and more youngsters are being exposed to alcohol without any regulation or oversight, and everywhere it is being marketed as something cool and fun.

There are people, however, who are spending endless hours and resources trying to educate the public and combat the evils that this habit is bringing with it. When alcohol becomes a way of life, when it becomes an escape, when it becomes an addition; then it takes over one’s life and a line has to be drawn somewhere. This is not just an individual’s problem, but one that affects multiple people around that individual and spreads its influence in society at large.

To make this information accessible to people and to ensure that they at least start thinking about this problem, AANZ has come up with a fantastic contest that encourages people to present their views about alcohol abuse. Almost everyone has been impacted in one way or the other by this issue and they are looking for a creative expression of that.

The options are endless. You can write a poem, paint a picture or make a video. You can rap about it, you can dance or you can simply point and shoot. The point is to express your opinion in an interesting manner to showcase the harmful effects of alcohol. Through this competition people will gain awareness about the cause and hopefully truly start to understand how their quality of life can be damaged by this addiction.

The cause is great and the prizes are even greater. Participate in the contest and spread the word. The more viewers like your entry, the higher your chances of grabbing the judge’s attention.

For details regarding the contest, check Alcohol Competition Win on Facebook. Be sure to carefully read the terms and conditions, and send in your entries latest by the 3rd of October, 2012.

Good luck and say NO to abuse!

Alcohol Abuse, DWINo Comments »Alcohol Abuse Alcohol Action New Zealand DWI

Going Through A Tough Time? Alcohol’s Not The Solution

Posted on Sep 05, 2012

An abusive father and a traumatic childhood was what Nancy had grown up with. 25 years old today, she sat in an alcoholism rehabilitation centre, pondering over the unfortunate turns her life had taken and how it led to her problem of alcohol abuse.

Nancy is not alone. Many in the US resort to finding comfort in a bottle of alcohol when faced with traumatic life experiences. Studies have found a strong association between people being treated for alcoholism and a history of child abuse or other form of emotional trauma. Incidents such as the sudden death of a loved one, robbery, being taken hostage, or being in a natural disaster can also trigger sorrowful feelings.

While alcohol may temporarily dampen your emotional pain, it is just a temporary solution. It just numbs the senses for a while, and when its effects wear off, feelings of fear, stress, sorrow, anger and helplessness resurface with greater intensity. Continuous reliance leads not only to alcoholism, but may also lead to chronic depression and other health problems.

Clearly, booze is not the way out of the ups and downs life throws at you. Then how should one deal with emotional stress?

Get The Support Of Friends And Family
Talking to a loved one about a problem can be a great catharsis. Ask someone to listen and talk to you if you’re going through a tough time. They may not know what to say at first, but over time, they’ll understand and be quite supportive.
Take The Path To Faith
Religion and faith can be very comforting and give a lot of hope to many. If you do believe in some religious school of thought, try joining your neighborhood’s religion community, or even talk to someone in the clergy for guidance and support.
Get Into Some Routine
Stressed and sad, doing anything may seem like a heavy burden. But you have to get into the groove by sticking to a schedule of taking meals, doing mild exercise such as 15-minute walks, or even taking up a new hobby temporarily to divert your mind. But don’t take on too much either.
Avoid Major Decisions
Having gone through a trauma, you may not be in a position to make the best judgment for yourself. Avoid major life-changing decisions until you feel more in control and seek the help of people you trust in this.
Give Yourself Some Time
It may take more than a few weeks, sometimes months, to get over the trauma you may have gone through. Take some time to deal with it, even if it means being alone at times, but for a few moments only.
Seek Professional Help If Need Be
Are your low feelings persisting for too long? You feel overwhelmed and cry thinking about the traumatic event, even though months have passed since? Have you been avoiding people for too long and your relationships are suffering? These may be signs that you need to see some therapist and get professional help.

Remember that trauma and alcohol never go hand in hand. If you are suffering, find comfort in more lasting, meaningful ways rather than through temporary solutions.

AlcoholNo Comments »Alcoholism Treatment Traumatic Stress