Women in their 20s and early 30s tend to drink more than older women, but alcohol problems more likely develop for women later in life when compared to men, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Troubled relationships cause women to drink more than other women. Heavy drinking becomes more common for unmarried, divorced or separated women. Women are also more likely to drink in excess if a husband drinks heavily. Alcohol addiction poses certain risks for men and women, but women may develop problems at a faster rate.
Emotions
Depression in women has been associated with alcoholism. Many women who suffered childhood sexual abuse have drinking problems later on. The stress of handling family, relationships and careers often affects women and may become a factor in developing alcohol addiction, which causes more stress within the family or a woman's career. Women who drink alone at home increase their risk of developing drinking problems.
Risks
Women who drink heavily have a greater risk of becoming victims of violence and sexual assault. Health risks become a major issue for alcoholic women, who suffer a greater physical toll than men who are heavy drinkers. Female alcoholics die at a 50 to 100 percent higher rate than men who are alcoholics, according to the Marin Institute of San Rafael, California. Women have a greater chance of dying from suicide, circulatory disorders and alcohol-related injuries than men.
Effects
Women develop alcoholic liver disease, which includes cirrhosis and hepatitis, following shorter periods of heavy drinking than men. Research indicates women are more susceptible than men to alcohol-related brain damage and heart disease, common factors in alcoholism---even though women drink less alcohol over a lifetime, the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism states. Women who drink heavily may also increase their risk for developing breast cancer.
Potential
Alcoholic women who become pregnant increase the risk of passing fetal alcohol syndrome onto their children. The syndrome occurs when women abuse alcohol during pregnancy. Alcohol addiction may result in birth defects, spontaneous abortion and developmental problems for the child later on because of prenatal exposure to alcohol, according to St. Louis Psychologists and Counseling Information and Referral.
Recovery
Women, like men, can recognize they have an alcohol problem if they have ever felt guilty about their drinking and the need to cut down, annoyed by criticism of their drinking or have an urge to drink the first thing in the morning to calm down following a night of drinking. Women have a slightly higher rate, however, of remaining abstinent following an alcohol rehab and recovery program than men, the Marin Institute notes. Lack of childcare has been cited as a reason some women do not take part in recovery services.
