Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) January 31, 2013

14 million women in America engage in binge drinking, approximately 3 times a month averaging almost six drinks per binge drinking period according to a recent study on alcohol abuse published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The study defined binge drinking as anytime a woman drank four or more drinks in one sitting. CDC director Dr. Thomas Frieden weighed in on the the health risk by stating, ” Although binge drinking is more of a problem among men and boys, binge drinking is an important and under-recognized women’s health issue.”

Even though women’s alcohol abuse is under-recognized, it’s unfortunately a commonplace occurrence. In a given month 1 in 8 women self-report to over indulging in alcohol and 1 in 5 girls of high school age engage in excessive alcohol consumption were a few more findings published in the CDC report.

Alcoholism In WomenThe health risks associated with binge drinking are numerous according to the CDC. Unintended pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, breast cancer and heart disease all have been linked to excessive alcohol consumption. The most serious consequence linked to binge drinking is death. Dr Frieden said “of the estimated 23,00 annual deaths attributed to excessive alcohol use among women and girls, binge drinking was responsible for more than half of those deaths.”

Some progress has been made to combat binge drinking in males, but preventing female binge drinking has been less successful. Dr. Robert Brewer, of the alcohol program division of the CDC’s national Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, said “binge-drinking rates among women…really haven’t changed very much over a 15-plus-year period.” The reason for female related alcohol abuse has not clearly been defined. Dr. David Jernigan, director of the Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth, speculates that female-friendly alcohol-marketing including the prevalence of flavored alcohols may be playing a part in women’s binge drinking.

Sovereign Health of California is a Los Angeles alcohol rehab center committed to helping women and men get the treatment they need to end their alcohol abuse. Sovereign Health’s residential treatment program for alcohol addiction can help people achieve and maintain sobriety.

Blog Post By:Jared Friedman