For example, some women who use crack cocaine exchange sex to obtain it (this is less often true for other drugs). A recent study of prostitution in New York City assessed the impact of crack use (Maher and Curtis 1992). Concurrent ethnographic fieldwork disclosed that fees for sex acts also decreased, in some instances from $10 or more to $2 to $3 per episode. At the same time, increased numbers of women began to engage in more traditionally male criminal activities, such as assault or robbery. Violent acts by women may reflect decreased income from sexual favors Women and Alcoholism as well as the climate of violence in which prostitution occurs (Maher and Curtis 1992).
A slightly higher rate of use was seen among adolescent females ages 12 to 17 across all categories. However, because percentages reporting any cocaine use frequency in this age group were small, comparisons require caution. Sampling bias may affect these data, because heavier users of drugs may not live in households and thus may not be captured in a household survey sample (table 1).
Another complicating factor is some women’s perception that they are responsible for their partners’ substance abuse, a perception that often is reinforced by their partners, friends, and family. In the same way that they hold themselves culpable for their battering, those women believe that their «bad» behavior prompts their partners’ use of alcohol or other drugs, a position that abusers exploit to rationalize their continued substance abuse. Women are more likely than men to suffer from mood, anxiety, and eating disorders that may benefit from being treated at the same time as the substance abuse disorder. However, few substance abuse treatment programs provide adequate treatment of psychiatric disorders. Women tend to develop alcohol-related diseases and other consequences of drinking sooner than men, and after drinking smaller cumulative amounts of alcohol.
Complications include spontaneous abortion, premature labor and delivery, premature rupture of membranes, preeclampsia (high blood pressure during pregnancy), abruptio placentae, and intrauterine death. The fetus is at risk for morbidity and mortality because of episodes of maternal withdrawal (Kaltenbach et al. 1998). Maternal alcohol use during pregnancy contributes to a wide range of effects on exposed offspring, known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs), and the most serious consequence is fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). FAS is characterized by abnormal facial features, growth deficiencies, and central nervous system problems (Jones and Smith 1973). Symptoms can include hyperactivity and attention problems, learning and memory deficits, and problems with social and emotional development. Infants who show only some of these features were previously identified as having fetal alcohol effects (FAE).
Studies have also drawn an association between maternal smoking during pregnancy and disruptive behavior earlier in development (NIDA 2008; Wakschlag et al. 2006; Wakschlag et al. 2002). Women appear to be at greater risk than men for Alzheimer’s disease, although women’s longer life spans may contribute to this higher risk (Sohrabji 2002). Heavy alcohol consumption is known to result in memory deficits and may increase the risk for Alzheimer’s disease in both genders, but particularly in women, who appear to be more vulnerable than men to alcohol-induced brain damage (Sohrabji 2002). There is no known safe amount of alcohol consumption for women who are pregnant or might become pregnant. Prenatal alcohol exposure can cause children to experience physical, cognitive, and behavioral problems, any of which can be components of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.
As evidenced by these articles, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism has successfully targeted many of these areas for support in recent years, yet much remains to be learned as we confront the rapidly changing characteristics of women’s alcohol misuse and harms. Women who abuse alcohol and other drugs appear to be at increased risk for attempting suicide. A study by Gomberg (1989) found that almost five times as many alcoholic women (40 percent) as women in the control group (8.8 percent) acknowledged suicide attempts, which occurred even more frequently among the younger alcoholic women. Over-the-counter (OTC) medications include cold remedies, antihistamines, sleep aids, and other legally obtained nonprescription medications. It is not uncommon for individuals with eating disorders, particularly those diagnosed with bulimia nervosa, to abuse laxatives, diuretics, emetics, and diet pills.
If you’re concerned about someone who drinks too much, ask a professional experienced in alcohol treatment for advice on how to approach that person. If your pattern of drinking results in repeated significant distress and problems functioning in your daily life, you likely have alcohol use disorder. However, even a mild disorder can escalate and lead to serious problems, so early treatment is important. Alcohol use disorder is a pattern of alcohol use that involves problems controlling your drinking, being preoccupied with alcohol or continuing to use alcohol even when it causes problems. This disorder also involves having to drink more to get the same effect or having withdrawal symptoms when you rapidly decrease or stop drinking.
The effects of these drugs can be dangerous and unpredictable, as there is no quality control and some ingredients may not be known. As your drug use increases, you may find that it’s increasingly difficult to go without the drug. In the case of an ischemic stroke, this is caused by blockage of a blood vessel that prevents the blood from reaching neighboring brain areas.
