Week's events promote alcohol awareness

Abuse of alcohol by women adressed in presentation

Kyra Papafil / senior photographer Left to right, freshman Molly Marcheski, Andrea Barnes, Emily Cain and Karen Aspden look at the brick wall set up by Warren Hall Post Office last week for Alcohol Awareness Week.

Since one-third of individuals who abuse alcohol are women, according to a Power Point presentation, the Counseling Student Development Center and the Campus/Community Coalition on Alcohol Abuse sponsored a Women and Alcohol Workshop Oct. 23.

This was one of the events promoting National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week.

The goals of the presentation were to provide information about women and the use of alcohol, as well as to identify tips for recognizing and addressing alcohol abuse problems.

Speakers Janice Rafferty and Kim Turner of the CSDC, held an informative workshop covering the topics of alcohol abuse, women's health, victimization, crime and pregnancy.

There are 15.1 million alcohol-abusing individuals in the United States. Binge drinking, which for women equates to four or more drinks in one sitting, is most common among women between the ages of 18 and 25 — the majority being college students, according to a "Women and Alcohol: A Post-Test" handout.

Dick Cooter, a counselor at the CSDC, spoke briefly of his experiences with alcohol. "You never see it coming — you never imagine it could happen to you," Cooter said.

There are several health risks involved with women and heavy drinking — which is three or more drinks a day — including higher chances of developing breast cancer and liver disease, according to Turner. Alcohol is also a contributer to sexual health risks. According to Turner, 60 percent of women with a sexually transmitted infection were drunk at the time of infection.

Although a man and woman may consume an equal amount of alcohol, the concentration of the drink is higher in women. Females generally are smaller than men, have more body fat with less water to dilute the alcohol, and possess less alcohol dehydrogenase to break down the alcohol, according to a the "Post-Test" handout.

Turner emphasized the importance of having an event focusing on women because "they comprise the fastest-growing segment of the alcohol-abusing population."

The increase, according to Rafferty, is due in part to pressure put on women by their jobs, men and advertisements.

Women in a male-dominated field of work are more likely to abuse alcohol, according to Rafferty.

Encouragement to have a drink from male friends and associates also is a factor in the pressure for women to drink. "When asked if alcohol was an important part of social life at JMU, 93 percent of male students and 83 percent of female students claimed that is was," Rafferty said.

Many alcohol advertisements portray drinking as glamorous, sexy and the norm, according to the post-test handout.

Both Rafferty and Turner emphasized the risk women face with alcohol and victimization. "Alcohol is a disinhibitor," Turner said. "Most people become more open and laid back and therefore more susceptible to becoming a victim."

Approximately 57 percent of female victims of violence were assaulted by an offender who was drinking at the time, according to Rafferty.

Of all reported date rape incidences, 70 percent involved the use of alcohol, Rafferty said.

Another issue of concern for women is the risk of pregnancy. The use of alcohol during pregnancy increases the baby's chances of being mentally retarded or having birth defects. Women are advised to avoid alcohol after giving birth so as to avoid the risk of transferring the alcohol to the infant through breast-feeding, Rafferty said.

The presentation offered tips to help cut down on alcohol consumption, such as to drink slowly, take frequent breaks from drinking, learn how to say no and get support when you need it, according to a "Ways You Can Help Yourself Cut Down on Alcohol Consumption" handout.

Attendees took a quiz testing their knowledge of the effects of alcohol on women in comparison to men.

Sophomore Keren Bogaczyk said, "It brought in not only information that I already knew but also new information, which is hard because we think it is common sense.

"It is very important for women to know what can go on, especially when alcohol use is involved," she said. "Most women never think it will happen to them or they do not know of the effects of alcohol. The lecture provided that knowledge to us, and it is very important for women to know this stuff."

Other events held during the week included presentations on binge drinking, addictions and rape and alcohol information tables on the commons and at the College Center.

For more information about alcohol abuse contact the CSDC at x8-6552.