Research shows that growing numbers of women can’t do without that glass or two to relax of an evening.
- Over the weekend, three women were stopped for random breath testing in Bunbury. Police will allege that all three, who are in their 30s, were over the legal limit.
Two of the women had young children in the car. OIC of South West traffic, Sgt Craig Clarke told ABC South West that he was both surprised and disappointed by the occurrence.
“Most people are responsible when they drive. This is unusual as far as we’re concerned.”
Research by the University of Western Sydney shows that more than 500,000 middle aged women across the country engage in high risk drinking.
Dr Janice Withnall is the lead researcher. “Mid-life women are what we call the sandwich generation. They have parenting, work, partners, caring responsibility.”
The women are anxious, feel they cannot cope and have learned to deal with that emotional distress with alcohol.
“That use increases and they use it as the first resort rather than talking to somebody.”
Statistics show that in 1990 five per cent of women could be said to be dependent on alcohol. That figure is now closer to 18 per cent, says Dr Withnall.
“This hasn’t been talked about.”
High risk is not four but two
“It is a shock for most people to know that women drinking more than two drinks is classed as high risk drinking,” states Dr Withnall.
“It accumulates. By the time the women are in their 30s and 40s, they are dependent on that alcohol.”
“Women become dependent four times quicker than men, Dr Withnall points out. While a woman can become reliant after drinking for just three years, men might take 12 years before a problem arises.
“There are at least 200 illnesses that are related to alcohol use. One of those is anxiety.”
According to Dr Withnall, there are other ways of handling distressing situations in life.
“That’s what we need young women to understand so that when they’re 45 to 55, they don’t attempt suicide.
The 45 to 55 age group is most at risk of taking their own life, Dr Withnall explains.
Recognising dependency
Women don’t have to drink everyday to be at risk, says Dr Withnall. One warning sign is if alcohol causes a person to be restless or irritable, rather than feeling good.
“That is the indication that alcohol is becoming toxic…. the obsession is starting.
“We would say that when you start to have that emotional distress, if you reach for a glass of wine that’s an indicator that you might have a problem with alcohol.
“There is no shame in that.”
Our society attaches to shame to the idea that women might not be able to handle drinking, she says. Women need to recognise that dependency is an illness and to talk to their GP in the first instance about their distress and what is happening in their lives.
A sobering thought
Australia ranks 6th in the world for the consumption of alcohol, notes Dr Withnall. “We need to move beyond that.”
Women should not be drinking every day, she reiterates. “There are health workers who can help women move beyond that.”
The UWS study has been running since 2006. The women taking part are in recovery, says Dr Withnall.
“They appreciate not drinking. They have an amazing life.
“Alcohol does not have to be the be-all and end-all.”