Alcohol Affects Women Differently than Men...

Every woman is different. No amount of drinking is 100 percent safe, 100 percent of the time, for every individual woman.
—National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

WOMEN AND INTOXICATION

Alcohol affects women differently than men due to their body makeup and chemistry:
• A woman’s body has more fat and less water than a man’s. When a woman drinks,
the alcohol is less diluted. It becomes more highly concentrated in her blood.2

HEALTH RISKS AMONG WOMEN WHO DRINK

Women who drink heavily face greater health risks than men who drink heavily. They are more prone to liver disease, heart damage, and brain damage. Studies show that women with alcoholism are up to twice as likely as men to die from alcohol-related causes such as suicide,accidents, and illnesses. Alcohol can cause other problems for women. Chronic heavy drinking can lead to menstrual problems, infertility, and early menopause. Drinking during adolescence can interfere with puberty, growth, and bone health.

Heavy drinking can make a woman more vulnerable to violence, including sexual assault.1 Women who drink are also more likely to have unprotected sex. Visit Balboa Horizons if you or a woman you know is suffering with alcohol abuse.