Women’s Alcohol-Related Deaths on the Rise, Outpacing Men’s

Summary: The rate of alcohol-related deaths among US women is increasing at a faster pace than among men, according to research published in The Journal of the American Medical Association. The study, which analyzed 20 years of CDC data, revealed that from 2018 to 2020, alcohol-related mortality rates for women surged by nearly 15%, while the rate for men increased just under 13%.

The Disturbing Rise of Alcohol-Related Deaths Among Women

The gender disparity in alcohol-related deaths is narrowing. Recent research, which was published in The Journal of the American Medical Association, highlighted a concerning trend: the rate of alcohol-related deaths among women in the US is rising more rapidly than that among men. This shift has caught the attention of public health experts.

The study analyzed two decades of data from the CDC and discovered that between 2018 and 2020, the mortality rates associated with alcohol for women increased by almost 15%. In contrast, the rate for men rose just below 13%. Despite this, men are still approximately three times more likely to succumb to alcohol-related deaths.

So, what’s causing the uptick in alcohol consumption among women? Several factors could be contributing. Marketing campaigns specifically targeting women, coupled with popular culture references like “wine o’clock” merchandise, might be influencing women to consume more alcohol. This trend mirrors the tactics used by tobacco companies in the 1960s, where they capitalized on the women’s liberation movement to promote cigarette smoking.

Katherine Keyes, a Professor of epidemiology at Columbia University, shared insights with NBC, noting that middle-aged women with higher incomes and education levels are the most likely to engage in binge drinking. The perception of success and the societal pressure to “have it all” might be pushing women towards increased alcohol consumption.

Furthermore, medical experts suggest that women are more vulnerable to the adverse health effects of alcohol. Factors such as a higher body fat percentage, hormonal changes, and specific physiological traits make women’s organs more prone to the detrimental impacts of alcohol, including conditions like cirrhosis and liver disease.

Source: Morning Brew