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Alcohol and drugs pose greater risks for women
By Melissa Campbell
For many students at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, a Friday night out includes alcohol and, sometimes, other drugs.
While alcohol and drugs pose risks to both men and women, women who abuse these substances face unique dangers.
September is National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month, a time devoted to educating people about the dangers of abusing alcohol and drugs and providing resources for support and recovery. What may begin as a couple of drinks and a hit here or there can soon spiral out of control.
The Wisconsin Medical Society reports that Wisconsin leads the nation in female binge drinking.
Sue McCarthy, assistant director of student support and advocacy at Women’s Resource Center, said she has noticed a trend in women attempting to drink as much alcohol as their male counterparts, despite overwhelming evidence that men can drink more than women.
One factor that contributes to women having a lower tolerance to alcohol than men is differences in body water content. Women have lower water content in their bodies, so a woman acquires a higher alcohol concentration than a man consuming the same amount of alcohol.
A woman’s blood-alcohol content is also influenced by her menstrual cycle, especially during pre-menstruation and ovulation. Birth control pills can cause alcohol to metabolize slower, leaving women intoxicated for a longer period of time.
Women who drink excessively put themselves at risk for many health problems. Alcohol use by women can increase the risk of certain cancers, osteoporosis, early menopause, irregular periods and infertility. Pregnant women who drink put their health at risk as well as their baby’s.
Women who drink heavily can also develop anemia, malnutrition, stomach irritation, circulatory disorders and a weakened immune system. Research has also suggested that alcoholism progresses more rapidly in women than in men. There are major non-medical risks for women who abuse alcohol or drugs. UWM Police Detective Martin Cavan said that out of 100 on-campus rape cases he examined from 1993-2004, 99 of them involved alcohol or drugs.
Drinking and drug use often lead to lowered inhibitions and impaired judgment, but can also lead to unprotected, and even unwanted, sex. Women who are under the influence of alcohol or drugs are often too inebriated to be able to say no. Sometimes the man is too drunk to listen to or even hear what the woman is saying.
If a woman has been raped, or suspects that she has, there are a number of resources she can turn to.
The Women’s Resource Center, located on the street level of the Union, can offer an ear to listen, as well as a connection to other helpful sources for victims of rape.
“If someone wanted to come to a safe place to start, we would be the place,” McCarthy said.
Norris Health Center, located in the northeast corner of campus, offers crisis counseling, emergency contraception and STD testing on a walk-in basis or by appointment.
The Sexual Assault Treatment Center in Milwaukee offers a variety of services to rape victims, all free of charge.
“The UWM campus police will provide transportation to and from the center for any student, no questions asked,” McCarthy said.
UWM offers several services to students who abuse alcohol and drugs. Paul Dupont, a psychologist at Norris, specializes in alcohol and drug abuse. Norris has therapy groups for recovering alcoholics, current drug users and recovering drug users. “Basics,” an early-intervention, two-session program heavily focused on assessment and individual feedback, is another program provided by Norris.
Meta House, the first residential treatment facility in the nation specifically geared toward women, offers both inpatient and outpatient services and is just a short drive from campus.
Do not seek help after it is too late. If you or someone you know needs help, UWM can help pave the road to recovery.
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