Alcohol-related health problems and deaths from alcohol abuse are on the rise in America, especially among women. In fact, research has shown that a staggering 20 percent of all deaths among American adults between the ages of 20 and 49 are due to excessive drinking. According to the director of the National Institute on Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse, George Koob, Ph.D., “It’s the addiction that everyone knows about but no one wants to talk about.”

Understandably, discussions about problematic alcohol use have taken a back seat since the opioid overdose crisis hit headlines several years ago and continues to profoundly impact our country. However, many people are unaware of how common alcohol use disorders are. Given that there are 7 times more For people who are more likely to suffer from alcohol abuse than opioid abuse, alcohol problems represent an “unofficial” public health crisis that requires both attention and innovative solutions.

Why are women hit hardest?

Not only is alcohol consumption and abuse increasing among women, but studies on the health effects of alcohol show overall that women, compared to men:

• Are more vulnerable to the long-term effects of alcohol on their health
• Experience alcohol-related medical problems earlier after developing alcohol use disorder
• Die from chronic alcoholism at a younger age than men with alcoholism
• Have a higher risk of developing severe alcoholic liver disease
• Development of cardiomyopathy, a disease of the heart muscle that makes it harder for the heart to pump blood to the rest of the body, after fewer years of drinking and lower alcohol consumption compared to men
• Men are more likely to experience brain changes (e.g. loss of brain volume) and cognitive problems due to alcohol than men

The risk of breast cancer for women who drink alcohol is also 5 to 9 percent higher if they consume one alcoholic drink per day than for non-drinkers, and their risk increases with each additional drink they consume per day.

Are there different risk factors for problematic alcohol consumption in men and women?

The short answer is: Yes.

Studies have shown that three factors play a greater role in the development of alcohol use disorder in women than in men:

• Alcoholism in the family
• The onset of an anxiety disorder at a young age; and
• Nicotine addiction

Characteristics that predict a higher risk of alcohol use disorder in men include:

• Looking for new products, a personality trait that involves a tendency to seek out new experiences that elicit intense emotions. These experiences are often associated with risk-taking.
• Behavioral and emotional problems in childhood and adolescence that include disrespect and aggression toward others. When these patterns of emotional and behavioral problems are formally diagnosed, they are called conduct disorder.
• Sexual abuse in childhood
• Loss of a parent
• Low self-esteem
• Dissatisfaction with marriage

If you or someone you care about has alcohol use that you are concerned about, knowing some of the personality traits, personal experiences and genetic vulnerabilities that put a man or woman at particularly high risk for developing problems can help you take next steps.

If you or someone you care about is having trouble controlling their drinking, seek professional help. I cover this topic in more detail in my book, Addiction: What everyone needs to knowand in my podcast.