It’s National Women’s Health Week (Might 14-20), a chance for social employees to encourage girls to make their well being a precedence, together with avoiding consuming an excessive amount of alcohol. With their distinctive skillset and as key suppliers of psychological and behavioral well being companies in a variety of settings, social employees are in a singular place to stop dangerous consuming amongst girls. If you happen to’re undecided learn how to start—or why beginning the dialog could make a distinction—listed below are 5 details it’s best to learn about girls and alcohol:
1. Consuming amongst girls has elevated considerably during the last 20 years.
Although males nonetheless drink extra total than girls do, gender gaps in consuming patterns are shrinking. Between 2000 and 2016, the number of women ages 18 and older who drink rose by 6 percent (whereas falling by 0.2 % amongst males). Girls’s binge consuming has additionally elevated considerably (by 14 %, in comparison with a 0.5 % enhance amongst males). Furthermore, girls and young women ages 12 to 20 are now drinking more alcohol than same-aged males.
2. Girls face larger well being dangers from consuming than males do.
Resulting from gender variations in physique construction and chemistry, girls expertise extra extreme well being dangers from consuming in comparison with males, together with blackouts, liver disease, quicker development of alcohol use disorder, and certain cancers – even after they eat much less alcohol. Those that are pregnant or can develop into pregnant additionally danger alcohol-exposed being pregnant and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs), a variety of lifelong behavioral, mental, and bodily disabilities that have an effect on an estimated 1-5% of college youngsters within the U.S.
3. Consuming throughout being pregnant usually happens with marijuana and tobacco use, and all pose dangers to each mom and child.
About 1 in 20 pregnant individuals report binge consuming prior to now 30 days and 40% of those who drink during pregnancy say they also use one or more other substances, most frequently tobacco and marijuana. Prenatal alcohol publicity has been linked to elevated danger of miscarriage, stillbirth, untimely delivery, and sudden toddler loss of life syndrome (SIDS). Folks with FASDs are at excessive danger for bother in class, bother with the regulation, alcohol and drug abuse, and psychological well being problems. Utilizing tobacco and marijuana throughout being pregnant have additionally been linked to well being dangers for each the mom and creating child.
4. There isn’t any protected kind, no protected time and no protected quantity of alcohol to drink whereas pregnant.
There isn’t any recognized protected quantity of alcohol use throughout being pregnant. There’s additionally no protected time throughout being pregnant to drink. All kinds of alcohol may be dangerous, together with wine, beer, and liquor. Though some infants will not be affected by alcohol publicity throughout being pregnant, others could have lifelong results. The most secure factor to do to is to keep away from any kind of alcohol use all through being pregnant.
5. Alcohol screening and temporary intervention (SBI) is efficient and comparatively easy to do.
Alcohol SBI has been proven to reduce risky alcohol use, and is really helpful by the U.S. Preventive Providers Activity Drive to be used with all adults served in main healthcare settings. Alcohol SBI can be endorsed by main medical skilled organizations in addition to the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC). Screening with a validated instrument takes only a few minutes, adopted by a quick dialog with those that are drinking too much, and referral to therapy when applicable
_________________________________________________
Since 2014, NASW, the NASW Basis and the Health Behavior Research and Training Institute at The College of Texas at Austin Steve Hicks Faculty of Social Work, have teamed-up with main well being workforce organizations and the CDC in a complete nationwide initiative to encourage well being professionals to assist stop prenatal alcohol use. NASW is the one psychological well being workforce group taking part in this initiative.
Go to NASW’s Behavioral Health web page for assets. Further assets are additionally obtainable:
_________________________________________________
Article by Diana Ling, MA, Program Supervisor; and Anna Mangum, MSW, MPH, Senior Well being Strategist; Well being Conduct Analysis and Coaching Institute, Steve Hicks Faculty of Social Work, The College of Texas at Austin.
