Alcohol use is up among women — and health consequences have followed – NBC News

Report on the Escalation of Alcohol-Related Health Risks Among Women and Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

Recent data indicates a significant increase in alcohol consumption and related health complications among women, posing a direct challenge to the achievement of key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 5 (Gender Equality). This report synthesizes findings on the rising prevalence of alcohol-related liver disease, identifies gender-specific vulnerabilities, and outlines the socio-demographic factors contributing to this public health issue.

I. The Public Health Crisis: A Setback for SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being)

The escalating rates of alcohol-related morbidity and mortality among women represent a critical public health concern that directly undermines SDG Target 3.5, which aims to strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including the harmful use of alcohol.

Key Statistical Trends

• Alcohol-related deaths among women more than doubled between 1999 and 2020.
• Fatalities from alcohol-related hepatitis saw a near threefold increase in women during the same period.
• A recent study highlights that heavy drinkers are developing alcohol-related liver disease at more than double the rate observed two decades ago.

These statistics underscore a failure to curb the harmful use of alcohol and protect population health, a core tenet of SDG 3.

II. Gender-Specific Factors and the Imperative of SDG 5 (Gender Equality)

The disproportionate impact of alcohol on women’s health is linked to a combination of physiological, social, and cultural factors. Addressing this disparity is essential for advancing SDG 5, which seeks to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.

Physiological and Social Vulnerabilities

1. Physiological Differences: Women exhibit higher susceptibility to alcohol-related liver damage due to factors such as lower body water content, higher body fat percentage, and reduced levels of the metabolizing enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase.
2. Closing the Consumption Gap: The historical gap in alcohol consumption between men and women has nearly closed, with the ratio approaching 1-to-1. This convergence exposes more women to alcohol-related risks.
3. Lifestyle and Social Changes: Evolving social norms, including higher female enrollment in college, delayed marriage, and delayed childbirth, have expanded the timeframe and opportunities for alcohol consumption among women.
4. Targeted Marketing and Social Stigma: Alcohol is often marketed to women as a tool for relaxation or a luxury good. Concurrently, social stigma can prevent women from seeking timely medical care for heavy drinking, creating a “hidden epidemic” that obstructs access to healthcare, a key component of both SDG 3 and SDG 5.

III. Compounding Risk Factors and Research Findings

The health crisis is exacerbated by the convergence of increased alcohol consumption with other health conditions, creating a “perfect storm” that complicates public health responses.

Analysis of Recent Data

• Study Definition of Heavy Drinking: Research defines heavy drinking as the consumption of at least 20 grams of alcohol per day for women (approximately 1.5 standard drinks) and 30 grams for men.
• Increased Liver Damage Risk: Among these heavy drinkers, the risk of significant liver damage increased from under 2% in 1999-2004 to over 4% in 2013-2020.
• Metabolic Syndrome: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome (conditions like obesity and high blood pressure) among heavy drinkers rose from 26% to nearly 38% over the same period, further elevating the risk of liver disease.

IV. Conclusion and Recommendations for SDG Alignment

The rising trend of alcohol-related harm in women is a multifaceted issue at the intersection of public health and gender equality. To make substantive progress toward SDG 3 and SDG 5, a concerted effort is required.

Pathways Forward

1. Enhance Public Awareness: Promote widespread education on the specific health risks alcohol poses to women, emphasizing that even moderate-to-heavy consumption can lead to severe liver disease.
2. Strengthen Healthcare Screening: Encourage honest patient-provider communication about alcohol intake to facilitate appropriate screening for silent liver disease. As liver damage often presents with no symptoms until advanced stages, proactive screening is vital.
3. Dismantle Social Stigma: Implement public health campaigns and support systems designed to reduce the stigma associated with women’s alcohol use disorders, thereby encouraging earlier intervention and treatment.

Addressing this growing health crisis is not only a medical necessity but a developmental imperative for ensuring the health, well-being, and equality of women.

SDGs Addressed in the Article

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • The article’s central theme is the rising health risks associated with alcohol consumption, particularly among women. It details specific health consequences such as alcohol-related liver disease, hepatitis, cirrhosis, and increased mortality rates, which directly relate to ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being.

2. SDG 5: Gender Equality

   • The article specifically focuses on the gendered aspects of alcohol consumption and its health impacts. It highlights that the gap in drinking rates between men and women has closed, women’s unique physiological vulnerability to alcohol, and social factors like stigma that disproportionately affect women seeking care. This connects directly to achieving gender equality and empowering all women by addressing specific health vulnerabilities and barriers they face.

Specific Targets Identified

1. Target 3.4: Reduce by one-third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.

   • The article directly addresses this target by discussing the increase in premature mortality from alcohol-related liver disease, which is a non-communicable disease. It states that “Alcohol-related deaths among women more than doubled from 1999 to 2020.” The call for “more awareness of the health risks of drinking” and the need for doctors to screen patients for liver disease align with the prevention and treatment aspect of this target.

2. Target 3.5: Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol.

   • This target is central to the article. The entire piece is an analysis of the “harmful use of alcohol.” It describes the increase in heavy drinking and binge drinking among women, defining heavy drinking for women as consuming “at least 20 grams per day.” The discussion of the consequences, such as liver disease, and the mention of stigma preventing women from seeking care (“women wait too long to see someone about a really serious, alcohol-related condition”) underscore the need to strengthen prevention and treatment.

3. Target 5.1: End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere.

   • While not about legal discrimination, the article points to social barriers that disproportionately affect women. It mentions that “women in particular tend to wait longer to seek medical care for heavy drinking due to social stigma.” This stigma acts as a barrier to accessing healthcare, representing a form of social discrimination that hinders women’s ability to achieve good health and well-being, connecting it to this target.

Indicators for Measuring Progress

1. Mortality rate attributed to alcohol-related diseases, disaggregated by sex.

   • The article provides explicit data for this indicator. It states that “Alcohol-related deaths among women more than doubled from 1999 to 2020” and “deaths from alcohol-related hepatitis, a disease resulting in severe liver inflammation, nearly tripled among women over the same time period.” This data directly measures mortality from NCDs and substance abuse, with a specific focus on women.

2. Prevalence of harmful use of alcohol.

   • The article provides several metrics that serve as indicators for alcohol consumption prevalence. It notes that “the ratio between men and women’s drinking is almost at 1 to 1,” indicating a closing gender gap. It also quantifies heavy drinking for women (“at least 20 grams of alcohol per day”) and reports that among heavy drinkers, the “risk of significant liver damage more than doubled over a 22-year period, from nearly 2% in 1999-2004 to more than 4% in 2013-20.”

3. Prevalence of co-morbidities among heavy drinkers.

   • The article implies this indicator by linking alcohol use with other health conditions. It states that the “rate of metabolic syndrome — conditions like obesity or high blood pressure… among heavy drinkers also increased during that time, from 26% to nearly 38%.” This serves as an indicator of the compounded health risks associated with harmful alcohol use.

Summary Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: nbcnews.com