Alcoholism

Minority Women's Health > American Indians/Alaska Natives > Health Topics > Alcoholism

Alcoholism is a pattern of drinking that is harmful to the drinker or to others. It is a disease that includes the following:

craving: a strong need to drink
loss of control: can't stop drinking once drinking has started
physical dependence: having withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating, shakiness, and anxiety after a time of heavy drinking
tolerance: need to drink greater amounts of alcohol in order to "get high"

Some people should NOT drink at all, including:

women who are pregnant or trying to get pregnant
people who plan to drive or do other things that require alertness and skill (such as using high-speed machinery)
people taking certain over-the-counter or prescription medicines
people with medical conditions that can be made worse by drinking
recovering alcoholics
people younger than age 21

Heavy drinking is defined as five drinks or more in one day at least once a month for adults. Heavy drinking can lead to alcohol problems, including alcoholism. Heavy drinking is more harmful to women than men. Heavy drinking raises a woman's risk of being hurt or raped. Drinking over the long term is more likely to damage a woman's health than a man's, even if the woman has been drinking less alcohol or drinking for a shorter length of time than the man.

American Indians/Alaska Natives have the highest rates of binge drinking. They face higher rates of chronic liver disease and cirrhosis, compared to the general U.S. population. As a group, American Indians/Alaska Natives also have higher rate of drinking and driving and alcohol-related fatal crashes compared to the general population.

The drinking patterns of American Indian women vary, depending on their tribe and if they live on or off a reservation. On a reservation, tribes set their own alcohol policies. Some tribes don't allow alcohol while others do. Drinking among American Indian women is affected by the social norms of their tribe. There is heavier drinking by women in tribes that are accepting of drinking.

Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is a problem for American Indians/Alaska Natives. Babies whose mothers drank alcohol while pregnant can be born with FAS. FAS can cause problems with learning, memory, attention span, communication, vision, and hearing. The rates of fetal alcohol syndrome vary between the tribes, but rates appear to be worse in the southwestern part of the U.S. Unfortunately, there are very few treatment centers for pregnant women.

If you drink alcohol, a safe level of drinking for most adults is:

up to two drinks per day for men
one drink per day for women and older people

If you think you may have a problem with drinking or drugs, get help. You can find out what kind of help is available from a doctor or nurse, clergy, or employee assistance program (EAP). Therapists, community health and social agencies, and alcohol/other drug treatment programs also can make useful suggestions. Begin by looking under "alcohol" or "drug abuse" in your telephone directory white pages.

Publications

Alcohol Alert #71: Alcohol and Tobacco - This publication contains statistics about the use of alcohol and tobacco together, the health risks involved with co-use, the influence of biological and genetic factors, and treatment.
http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/AA71/AA71.htm
Alcohol: A Women´s Health Issue - This booklet contains information on women and the effects of consuming alcohol. This publication includes information on the benefits and risks of drinking, as well as Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, drinking in adolescents and older women, and alcoholism.
http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochurewomen/women.htm
American Indian and Alaska Native Women's Health - This site provides information for Indian health service providers and consumers about American Indian and Alaska Native women's health. It discusses access to care, violence against Native women, cancer, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, substance abuse, cardiovascular disease, and other health issues.
http://www.ihs.gov/MedicalPrograms/MCH/W/index.cfm
American Indian Health - This web site is an information portal for and about the health of native peoples of the United States.
http://americanindianhealth.nlm.nih.gov/
Drinking and Your Pregnancy: When You Are Pregnant, Drinking Can Hurt Your Baby - This brochure explains how alcohol can cause problems during pregnancy and lead to fetal alcohol syndrome. It also provides a list of resources for more information and where to get help.
http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/fas/fas.htm
How to Help Yourself, Your Family Member or Friend Be an Alcohol-Free Mother-To-Be: Tips for Native Women - This brochure describes how Native women can help themselves and other women have alcohol-free pregnancies. It discusses the risks of drinking during pregnancy and includes suggestions for talking to pregnant relatives or friends about FASD. It also lists things women can do to support healthy pregnancies—for themselves and others.
http://www.fasdcenter.samhsa.gov/documents/NI_Tips_for_Native_Women.pdf
Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator - This web site can help you locate a substance abuse treatment facility in your area.
http://www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov/
What You Need To Know: The Effects of Alcohol on Women - This fact sheet provides data and statistics on women and drinking, including associated health risks, and the effects of drinking during pregnancy and while nursing. It also provides resources for additional information about alcohol and women.
http://www.fasdcenter.samhsa.gov/documents/NI_WYNTK_Effects_Women.pdf
Alcohol use self-assessment: Rate your drinking habits (Copyright © MFMER) - Take this alcohol use self-assessment to better understand your drinking habits. This assessment can't diagnose you with an alcohol use or abuse problem, but it can help you evaluate your drinking and understand whether you may benefit from treatment.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/alcohol-use/MH00123
Drinking Alcohol During Pregnancy (Copyright © MOD) - Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can cause physical and mental birth defects. This fact sheet explains the hazards of drinking during pregnancy and breastfeeding, the effects of the father's drinking, and what the March of Dimes is doing to prevent fetal alcohol exposure.
http://www.marchofdimes.com/professionals/19695_1170.asp

Organizations

= Indicates Federal Resources

Current as of December 2007