Demographics of older women drinkers
29% of older women are considered low-risk drinkers, consuming 7 or fewer drinks a week.
3-12% of older women are considered at risk drinkers, consuming more than 7 drinks a week.
As of 2001 0.5% are considered alcohol dependent, but this number has doubled since 1991.
Over the next 20 years the number and impact of older females is projected to increase.
Source: Epstein, E., Fischr-elber, K & Al-Otaiba, Z. (2007). Women, aging, and alcohol use disorders. Journal of Women & Aging. 19(1/2), 31-48.
Gender-related risk factors
Alcohol abuse risk factors for women across the lifespan include drinking while alone, depressed or feeling pressured by a partner or peers.
Women ages 40-59 may feel more emotionally vulnerable because of separation, divorce, menopause and the empty nest syndrome. Others may be experiencing the "traumatic nest" syndrome as their college-aged children return for winter or summer break and must readjust to reincorporating them into household life again for an extended period.
Women 60 and older may be experiencing widowhood and grief, and their social network may shrink over the years. For those who retire along with their spouse, they may feel compelled to keep up with their spouse's drinking. Caring for a loved one or raising a grandchild alone can feel stressful and burdensome at times.
Generally those with substance abuse disorders have other, precipitating mental health problems; women in general are more likely to be diagnosed with depression, anxiety, eating disorders and borderline personality disorder. Women with anxiety and depression are more likely to develop alcohol dependence. Research has identified a pattern of victimization, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and susbstance abuse. Early life trauma such as sexual abuse and violence can develop into a vicious cycle of substance abuse that leads to further victimization and alcohol abuse throughout adulthood.
Physiologically, women have higher blood alcohol levels than men even when they've consumed the same amount of alcohol because they have less body water and less gastric dehydrogenase, one of the enzymes that metabolizes alcohol. Substance abusing women's brains are also more active in areas (the dorsal striatum, anterior cingulate cortices) that assess pleasurable experiences and subsequently evaluate the consequences.
Source:
Back, S., Contini, R. & Brady, K. (2007). Substance abuse in women: Does gender matter? Psychiatric Times, 1-4.
How much is too much to drink?
As you age, the body metabolizes alcohol and other substances at a slower rate, which means that consuming smaller qualities of alcohol can intoxicate you more quickly even though you used to be able to drink more. Keep in mind that women already have a lower tolerance for alcohol than men do, which means that even consuming the same amount of alcohol as your male friends and relatives heightens your risk for adverse medical consequences.
If you are going to drink, what's the safe amount? Medical professionals recommend no more than a drink a day for everyone. This equals five ounces of wine, one 12-ounce domestic beer, or 1.5 ounces of 80 proof liquor. It is very easy to overestimate how much a drink actually is, which is why you should always use a measuring cup to make sure that you're drinking within safe limits.
The beneficial affects of alcohol, specifically a glass of red wine a night, have been been much touted by the media, but many of these effects could be better achieved through healthy diet and exercise or by consuming grape juice instead. No competent doctor should recommend drinking to a teetotaler just to take advantage of these benefits! Any alcohol consumption increases your risk of breast cancer, osteoporosis and heart disease.
Differences in treatment
Women entering treatment are more likely than men to feel ashamed and embarrassed. Women who do seek professional help for substance abuse typically go to primary care or mental health centers not specializing in substance abuse. Having a primary care provider check in on how much alcohol you consume and guide you through strategies to minimize your drinking can be quite effective. For those who are struggling with more severe cases, there are other treatment options out there, including inpatient detoxification and rehabilitation programs, outpatient management of detoxification, intensive outpatient programs (on average 9 hours a week) or weekly individual or group psychotherapy.
Some mutual peer support groups are tailored to women such as Alcoholics Anonymous women’s groups and Women for Sobriety. The advantages of these self-help groups are wide availability of such groups, no cost, and having opportunities to interact with others going through with what you're dealing with now.
It can help to combine substance abuse treatment with psychotherapy focusing on the issues that might have prompted drinking. Some of these issues might be loss, isolation, health problems, decreased mobility, depression, retirement and learning to live on a fixed income. Cognitive behavioral programs that teach skills to cope with these problems that often crop up in older adulthood have been found to be quite effective.
Research suggests that older women respond better to treatment than men.
Source: Epstein, E., Fischr-elber, K & Al-Otaiba, Z. (2007). Women, aging, and alcohol use disorders. Journal of Women & Aging. 19(1/2), 31-48.
Disclaimer:
Please note that though educational in nature, this website does not substitute for professional medical advice and should not be used as a sole guide for making decisions. Medications are constantly being developed and tested for their long term effects, so the information provided here should not be assumed to be the most current. When in doubt, always talk to your doctor or pharmacist. If you or a loved one are experiencing a health emergency, call 911. I disavow all legal responsibility.
