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Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!
Wednesday, 25 February 2009.
Originally from express article 25 February 2009
By Di from Auckland Community Alcohol and Drug Services (CADS)
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| Diana Rands from CADS. |
Of course girls wanna have fun – absolutely no doubt about this! Our downfall is that we live in a world that have norms created by men, and men – especially in the case of alcohol do not experience the drugs’ negative effects as much as women.
I remember fondly ‘out-drinking’ my boy buddies – oh yes, I could keep up with them, in fact - I could drink more! Funny how I often ended up kneeling at altar of the great white toilet bowl...
What I failed to realise, was that I was not doing myself any favours. Alcohol is an insidious drug. It is portrayed in our media as sexy, a symbol of women’s freedom to be chic – the liberated woman! This is a potent symbol for lesbians, young and old. Add a bit of self medication to live in a homophobic world and it is little wonder that alcohol is the drug of choice for many lesbians in New Zealand.
Why should women, be concerned about alcohol?
- Women’s bodies are harmed more by alcohol than men’s bodies,
- Drinking a lot over many years can affect the way a persons body absorbs vitamins leaving them malnourished,
- It has an unhealthy effect on the immune system, which increases vulnerability to infectious diseases,
- It can lead to liver damage. Cirrhosis of the liver takes a significantly shorter period of time to develop in women as compared to men (13 years for women, 22 for men).
- Alcohol is a risk factor for breast cancer – especially if combined with smoking cigarettes
- Alcohol puts a women at greater risk from osteoporosis
- Women who are drinking heavily take longer to get aroused and orgasms take longer to reach...
- Not to mention the dodgy decisions women can make if drunk!
So... how much is too much?
It is all about balance, eating well, taking pleasure in many things. Some warning signs include: finding yourself depending on that drink to get you through the day, or de-stress you at night, not being able to imagine being alcohol free for more than a few days, and consistently drinking more than you had planned.
If you are unsure if alcohol is a problem in your life, ask your partner, or your closest friends – they will have your best interests at heart and insight that you may not have. It may even be time to talk to a professional about the role of alcohol in your life.
If you have concerns about your own or someone else's alcohol or other drug use, or if you'd like more information, contact CADS on 845 1818 or www.cads.org.nz. If you live outside Auckland contact Alcohol and Drug Helpline 0800 787 797.
> More items from Di's Drug Column
