Women and Alcohol Problems in San Diego North County?

Are women who drink wine with their friends in Del Mar, Encinitas, Carmel Valley and La Jolla, alcoholics?

Women who have a few social drinks now and then, are probably not alcoholics. Some, however, may be on their way to developing an addiction to alcohol.I get calls every day from women who think they might have an alcohol problem, and women who know they have a drinking problem and are asking for help.

When I was struggling to understand my drinking behavior over 25 years ago , I felt guilty and confused. I thought I should be able to control the effects of my drinking. Betty Ford and Elizabeth Taylor, two very famous women in our country, could not control the amount they drank either. These women identified a pattern of drinking behavior that was predictable, and distinguished them from light social drinkers. Knowing that they could face their problem with alcohol gave me courage to face mine.Read over the following list of predictable behaviors for alcohol dependency and see if you can identify with any of the following. If so, you are not alone.

___Buying liquor at more than one location to keep the quantity secret.

___Hiding bottles or cans of alcohol or secretly disposing of them.

___Advance planning to reward yourself with heavy drinking.

___Memory loss after drinking too much.

___Feeling sick and hung over after drinking.

___Feeling afraid you made a fool of yourself the night before.

___Drinking alcohol before leaving the house for party or event

___Drinking to feel wittier, more relaxed, or less anxious.

___Uncertain about going to events where there will not be alcohol.

___Entertaining or creating situations so you can drink alcohol.

___Avoiding discussions, literature or TV programs on alcoholism.

___Carrying liquor in your purse, car or at the office.

___Becoming defensive when someone questions you about drinking.

___Are angry that other people are trying to control you and your drinking.

___Drinking while angry, upset, depressed, or under stress.

___Driving after you have been drinking alcohol, feeling certain you can drive.

___Switching types of alcohol to prevent becoming too intoxicated.

___Drinking at work or at your activities with your children.

___Other people show concern about how much you drink.

___Breaking promises to others because of drinking.

___Feeling crazy or overwhelmed but knowing why.

___Feeling guilt and remorse for behavior while drinking.

___Being unable to predict how many drinks will be consumed in one sitting.

___Drinking more than planned or faster than other people do.

___Feeling like it is impossible or difficult to stop drinking without help.

If you can relate to some of the above questions, talk to someone who understands what you are going through and get the help you need. You do not need to suffer any longer.Call Lasting Recovery toll free: 800-808-6373, or in San Diego County, 858-453-4315.

Judy Saalinger, Ph.D., MFT, CAS

Research Summary - Women and Smoking

U.S. Surgeon General David Satcher released a report that shows the devastating impact smoking has had on women in the United States over the past few decades. According to Women and Smoking: A Report of the Surgeon General, women now account for 39 percent of all smoking-related deaths each year in the United States, a proportion that has more than doubled since 1965.

Since 1980, nearly three million U.S. women have died prematurely from smoking.
The study found that increased marketing by tobacco companies has hindered progress in cutting smoking by women. Recent increases in smoking among teenage girls also threatens to overwhelm any progress that has been made in the last few decades.

"In the early decades, smoking prevalence was more prominent among men, and it took nearly 25 years before the gap narrowed and smoking became commonplace among women," Dr. Satcher said. "Women not only share the same health risk as men, but are also faced with health consequences that are unique to women, including pregnancy complications, problems with menstrual function, and cervical cancer."

The report examined patterns of tobacco use among women, factors associated with starting and continuing to smoke, the health consequences of smoking, tobacco marketing targeted at women, and cessation and prevention interventions.

"Smoking is a critical women's health issue that must be addressed on all fronts," said HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson. "We must begin this battle in schools before girls even begin to smoke, and we must share with teenage girls that smoking is not only harmful, but it is not glamorous. Society must not glorify smoking."

"In addition, we must provide information to women and minority groups detailing the harmful affects of smoking as well as the benefits of smoking cessation," he said. "The facts are clear: smoking significantly reduces life expectancy and hampers quality of life."