Researchers surveyed nearly 7,000 women in California during 2003-4 and found that 9.3% were involved in binge drinking.
The reasons given for alcohol abuse in this manner were;
Poor physical health, and poorer mental health, including;
- symptoms of PTSD,
- feeling overwhelmed by stress
Adverse experiences in adulthood, including;
- intimate partner violence,
- having been physically or sexually assaulted, or
- having experienced the death of someone close
In childhood, including;
- living with someone abusing substances or mentally ill, or
- with a mother victimized by violence, or
- having been physically or sexually assaulted
The study concluded that identifying characteristics of women who engage in binge drinking is a key step in prevention and intervention efforts.
Binge drinking programs should consider comprehensive approaches that address women’s mental health symptoms as well as circumstances in the childhood home.
Women’s childhood and adult adverse experiences, mental health, and binge drinking: The California Women’s Health Survey. Christine Timko, Anne Sutkowi, Joanne Pavao and Rachel Kimerling. Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy 2008, 3:1.
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