The Gender-Neutral Truth About Alcoholism

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) defines an alcohol use disorder (also commonly known as an “AUD” or “alcoholism”) as “a chronic relapsing brain disease characterized by an impaired ability to stop or control alcohol use despite adverse social, occupational, or health consequences.”

When it comes to having an AUD, it really doesn’t matter whether you are a man or a woman. If you’re struggling with an alcohol addiction, it will bring you to your knees.

Alcoholism will destroy your most cherished relationships with the important people in your life. It will annihilate your body and cause devastating health conditions. It has the potential to wreck you financially. It can create legal difficulties, problems at work, and mental health issues.

And, when it is all said and done, alcoholism will leave you powerless, in the fetal position, wondering how your life became so completely unmanageable.

Alcoholism Does Affect Men and Women Differently

To be sure, there are some stark similarities when it comes to how an AUD can destroy a man or woman’s life. In many ways, alcoholism doesn’t discriminate.

That being said, it is important to understand that an AUD does seem to affect men and women differently in very specific ways. We’ve given you a snapshot of the universal experience that happens when alcoholism goes untreated. Now, let’s talk about how alcohol addiction affects men and women differently.

Men and Alcoholism – What Do the Statistics Tell Us?

According to all the data available on the topic of men and alcoholism, men are at a significantly greater risk to develop an alcohol addiction than women – by a lot.

In fact, some estimates suggest that men are as much as four times more likely to be afflicted with alcoholism than women. This is evidenced by a NIAAA report, which states that of the 88,000 people who die every year from alcohol-related death, an astounding 62,000 are men and only 26,000 are women.

It is unclear why men are more likely to become alcoholic drinkers than women. However; one study suggests that the release of dopamine may be a huge factor. This research revealed that men produce more dopamine (one of the brain’s “feel-good” neurotransmitters) while drinking, which reinforces continued drinking because it feels so good. It also showed that men are more likely to develop a tolerance to alcohol than women are, making them more likely to drink larger quantities of alcohol.

Here are some other interesting facts about men and alcoholism, provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

• Approximately 58 percent of all adult men reportedly drank alcohol within the last month.
• Approximately 23 percent of men engage in binge-drinking at least five times per month, with an average of eight drinks per binge.
• Men are approximately two times more likely to binge drink than women.
• About 4.5 percent of all men meet the diagnostic criteria for alcohol dependence.
• Among all drivers involved in fatal motor-vehicle accidents, men are about twice as likely as women to have been intoxicated at the time of the accident.
• Men consistently have higher rates of alcohol-related hospitalizations than women.
• Men commit suicide more often than women (by about four times) and are much more likely to have been drinking alcohol when they committed suicide.
• Drinking alcohol increases the risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, and colon in men.
• An AUD can interfere with male hormone production and testicular function. This can result erectile dysfunction and infertility.

These statistics are sobering, to say the least. Because of social stigma, many men are not willing to admit they need help when their drinking gets out of hand. Cultural expectations can lead men to believe they are weak or “less of a man” if they admit defeat. This can have tragic consequences. It takes great strength and courage to commit to a rehabilitation program when alcohol is ruining your life.

Is your husband battling an addiction to alcohol? This article might help.

What Do We Know About Women and Alcoholism?

Just because men are more likely to develop an AUD doesn’t mean women aren’t at risk. In fact, research indicates that women are drinking more alcohol now than ever before.

According to the CDC, the number of women who died from cirrhosis and chronic liver disease (two of the most common alcohol-related health complications) increased by 18 percent for 25 to 44-year-olds and a whopping 57 percent for 45 to 64-year-olds from 2000-2015.

It is unclear why more women are developing an AUD, although some addiction experts believe this is caused by increased stress. Cultural roles have changed dramatically for women in the past 20 years. Many mothers are working a full-time job and raising children alone and turning to alcohol to cope.

Here are some other relevant facts about how alcoholism affects women, provided by the CDC:

• About 46 percent of women reportedly drank alcohol within the last month.
• Approximately 12 percent of all women engage in binge-drinking three times a month with an average of five drinks per binge.
• About 2.5 percent of all women met the diagnostic criteria for alcohol dependence in the past year.
• About 10 percent of pregnant women drink alcohol.
• Excessive drinking may disrupt a woman’s menstrual cycle and increase the risk of infertility.
• Women who binge drink are more likely to engage in unprotected sex and have multiple sex partners. These risky sexual behaviors increase the likelihood of unintended pregnancy and STDS.
• Women are more vulnerable than men to the brain-damaging effects of excessive alcohol use than men.
• Women who drink excessively are at increased risk for heart damage than men.

Without a doubt, women are susceptible to suffering from the negative effects of alcoholism just like men are. There is no shame in having an addiction to alcohol. As mothers, many women will not go to treatment because they don’t want to be away from their children. In these situations, an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) is always an option.

The Takeaway? Alcohol Addiction is Bad for Everybody

At Experience Recovery, we recognize that an AUD can affect men and women in different ways. But, in the end, do these differences really matter? Isn’t it the similarities we should focus on? Alcoholism is a dangerous disorder with devastating (and even deadly) consequences. It brings pain and suffering to men and women alike – and their families.

Whether you are a man or a woman, you can get help for an Alcohol Use Disorder here at Experience Recovery. No matter how hopeless things may seem now, or how helpless you feel; there is hope and help is available.

Not sure if you’re an alcoholic? Take this self-assessment and find out.

Have a loved one who is addicted to alcohol? Here’s how you can help.

The Heavy Burden of Alcohol Abuse In the United States

It is no secret that alcohol is the most commonly abused substance in the United States. The stuff is legal and woven into the very fabric of American culture. Think about it. Alcohol is served at ballgames, BBQs, parties, special events, and celebrations. Plus, the stuff is sold on practically every street corner from here to Maine. Nevertheless, just because alcohol is legal and socially acceptable doesn’t mean we should underestimate its potential for causing death and destruction – even in the workplace.

According to a 2015 report published by the National Institute on Alcohol and Alcoholism (NIAA), approximately 15 million American adults have some form of alcoholism – now commonly referred to as “Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD).” This includes about 10 million men. Plus, there are about 88,000 alcohol-related deaths in the U.S. every year. These statistics are staggering.

Alcohol addiction affects everyone it comes into contact with. It destroy destroys individuals, wrecks families, and annihilates friendships. It can also negatively impact the workplace. In fact, a study conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reported that in 2010 alone, the economic burden caused by alcohol abuse in the United States was a whopping $249 billion. A large portion of this was loss of work productivity. Wowza!

How Alcoholism Affects The Workplace and What You Can Do to Make a Difference

When there is an alcoholic in the workplace, it can affect the entire organization. You would be surprised how many problems can arise if just one man has a drinking problem on the job. It causes a loss of productivity, affects safety, creates an unstable work environment, puts undue stress on team members, and causes a financial burden to the employer.

When it comes to alcoholism in the workplace, we all have a responsibility to address the problem. Unfortunately, many people will tiptoe around an alcoholic and never confront them or they will choose to ignore the obvious. OR, even worse, coworkers will gossip, complain, or make fun of the alcoholic without ever dealing with the problem. This is a mistake.

If you have a coworker, employer, or employee who is an alcoholic, you should face the problem head on. Not only are you doing the individual a disservice by not pretending like their alcoholism doesn’t exist, you are short-circuiting the success of the organization you work for.

Of course, before you take any action regarding a potential alcoholic in the workplace, you should know what signs to look for.

Five Signs of Alcoholism in the Workplace:

# 1 – Frequent tardiness or absences: This is a sure sign that someone in the workplace has an alcohol problem. Quite often, an alcoholic will drink to excess the night before a workday and pass out at night’s end. This, of course, leads to hangovers. Hangovers are a force to be reckoned with and they can cause even the most dedicated worker to stay in bed until the pain subsides – or call in sick. If someone you work with is missing a lot of work or coming in late all the time, they might be an alcoholic.

# 2 – Drinking At Work: Most companies have a strict policy against drinking at work. This rule is in place for obvious reasons. However; if you happen to know that someone you work with keeps a bottle of liquor in their desk, sneaks drinks in the bathroom, or has a lot of alcohol during lunch; this could be a red flag. People who don’t have a problem with alcohol don’t need to drink during the work day.

# 3 – Loss of Coordination or Motor Skills: We all know what someone looks like when they are drunk. They stumble, slur their speech, have poor coordination, and become incoherent. If you think someone is drunk at work, they probably are. However; you do have to be careful on this one. Some medications taken for legitimate health reasons can have this same effect. You don’t want to call someone out for being drunk if they are simply having a bad reaction to medication.

# 4 – You Smell Alcohol on their Breath: This one is a no-brainer. Beer, wine, and liquor have a distinct smell. If you can smell alcohol one someone’s breath first thing in the morning or during the workday, this is definitely a sign that there is alcoholism in the workplace.

# 5 – Poor Work Performance: If someone seems to be struggling with their work duties and responsibilities, alcohol might be to blame. This is especially true if someone used to be a stellar performer at work and suddenly it seems like they can’t manage their workload. Sloppy work, disorganization, foolish mistakes, and a loss of productivity could be caused by alcoholism in the workplace.

What To Do If You Suspect There is Alcoholism in the Workplace

Every company has a different policy when it comes to alcoholism in the workplace. And, let’s be honest – this is a touchy subject that should be handled with care. You definitely want to treat the individual with respect, dignity, and compassion.

If you consider the person a friend, it might be a good idea to have a private conversation with them to express your concerns. Explain that you don’t want to humiliate them in any way, but that their drinking is disrupting the work environment. If nothing changes, you may have to go to a superior and explain what’s going on. Tell them that you have attempted to handle the problem on your own, but nothing has changed.

If you are the supervisor or employer, you should consult with your human resources department to educate yourself on company policy. You may have to ask the person to submit to an on-the-job alcohol test or take other action.

If you are in a position of leadership, you should also find out what kind of coverage (if any) the company offers to employees with an alcohol addiction. Most plans allow for detox and substance abuse treatment. Having this information when you confront the person will show that you are compassionate about their situation and that you want to help.

Please Be Kind – Alcoholism is a Disease

While you may be annoyed, frustrated, or downright angry with an alcoholic coworker or subordinate; please try to exercise some empathy. Alcohol Use Disorder is a medically recognized disease. It does not represent a moral failing, character flaw, or sign of weakness. It is a sickness that requires treatment. Do what you can to rally support for the person in question and encourage them to get sober.

While many people struggle with alcoholism, there is no one path to recovery. Clinical intervention has been proven to be effective, and to make long-term sobriety possible—but the type of intervention can vary from one person to the next. That’s why Experience Recovery provides a continuum of treatment and recovery services, including an outpatient treatment model.

The outpatient treatment model has a number of benefits; it’s a little bit more flexible than inpatient care, which makes it a good option for those who cannot get away from their school or work requirements, yet it’s also proven to be medically sound, safe, and effective.

The best way to determine whether outpatient treatment is right for you is to check with an Experience Recovery admissions counselor, who can advise you on the clinical protocol that’s right for you.

Should you decide to seek treatment on an outpatient basis, here’s what you can expect from it.

Experience Recovery: Santa Ana Alcohol Treatment

You’ll start with an assessment. Before anything else happens, you’ll speak with an addiction recovery specialist, who will simply help gauge the extent of your addiction to alcohol. You may also be diagnosed with co-occurring mental health disorders, such as depression or anxiety, as applicable. This is private, non-confrontational, and non-judgmental; the whole point is simply to determine your needs, and what kind of treatment you require.

From there, your Experience Recovery addiction treatment specialist will develop a treatment plan. Again, there’s no cookie-cutter approach here, but your treatment plan will likely involve an ongoing schedule of treatments, including one-on-one therapy sessions; group therapy sessions; educational services; life skills development; medications; and possibly other components, as well.

How often will you need to visit Experience Recovery for treatment? That’s something to discuss with your addiction recovery specialist, who can help you develop an effective treatment plan around your school and work obligations. The important thing is to be committed to your recovery, and to be sure you show up for your scheduled appointments—even on days when you don’t feel like you “need” it.

Don’t forget about detox. Before therapy begins, you’ll need to get the effects of alcohol out of your system; clinical detox can be relatively painless and safe, and is vastly preferable to trying to detox on your own.

Aftercare is another critical component. Even once you make some progress in your recovery and stop attending regular outpatient treatments, it’s important that you keep going to therapy or support group meetings as directed. This fortifies you against potential relapse, and ensures that your recovery is ongoing.

Learn More About Experience Recovery, California Drug and Alcohol Rehab

Outpatient alcohol treatment can position you for a lifetime of freedom, health, and sobriety—but the first step is to simply meet with an addiction recovery specialist to discuss your options. Don’t wait. Make the first step toward healing today. Reach out to Experience Recovery, Santa Ana drug and alcohol rehab, to ask about outpatient care.