3 Surprising Alcohol Addiction Facts for Women

Women & Alcohol Addiction: Surprising Facts You Should Know

A recent study by the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions reports that Americans are drinking more alcohol than ever. The highest increase in drinking has been among women, minorities, and older people. Over the last 10 years, the alcohol industry has increased their focus on targeting their advertising to women.

I am a woman in long-term recovery who was once addicted to partying, binge-drinking, and prescription pills. I started my drinking in college and didn’t see anything wrong with passing out at the end of the night. All of my friends were drinking heavily and every event I went to revolved around drinking.

As a sober woman – I am highly aware of how the alcohol industry is targeting women. From mommy drinking memes to ‘Rose all day’ shirts – the message to drink is constant. We are sold a lie that we need alcohol to function. We are told that it’s normal to drink copious amounts of wine at our mommy get togethers. Even our Yoga studios are putting on classes that promote drinking. We lie to ourselves and say “we deserve this.” We don’t deserve alcohol. We deserve to feel safe and loved.

3 Alcohol Addiction Facts You Can’t Ignore

1. Alcohol is the third leading preventable cause of death in the United States. Over 88,000 people die from alcohol related causes annually. In 2014, alcohol-impaired driving fatalities accounted for over 31 percent of overall driving fatalities.

2. Alcohol is ethanol – it is a poison. Alcohol is the common term for ethanol or ethyl alcohol, a chemical substance found in beer, wine, liquor, and some medicines, mouthwashes, and household products. Ethanol is a colorless volatile flammable liquid which is produced by the natural fermentation of sugars. The largest single use of ethanol is as an engine fuel and fuel additive. When you drink alcohol, you are drinking gasoline.

3. The National Toxicology Program of the US Department of Health and Human Services lists consumption of alcoholic beverages as a known human carcinogen. In other words, alcohol use can cause cancer. The more alcohol a person drinks – particularly the more alcohol a person drinks regularly over time – the higher their risk of developing an alcohol associated cancer.

I, as a woman, never knew these statistics or this information before sobriety. I had no idea how dangerous drinking was to my health. I didn’t know I was drinking grape flavored gasoline or that the alcohol industry viewed me as an emerging market. Pre-sobriety, I viewed drinking as glamorous and fun. I never looked at alcohol as a drug. Binge drinking was my norm.

Today, as a sober woman, I hope to increase awareness about the truth of alcohol. I want more women to pay attention to the messages we are being sold about alcohol. In reframing my thoughts around alcohol, I have discovered that I don’t need or deserve a drink – I deserve sobriety. I deserve life.

Alcohol Addiction Rehab for Women at Footprints Beachside Recovery

At Footprints Beachside Recovery, we offer private, separate living arrangements for women to help ensure a more personal experience that is specifically tailored to meet the unique needs of our female clients. Learn more about our gender-specific alcohol addiction treatment program for women, and start your journey to recovery today.

This piece was contributed to our blog by Lara Frazier.

Brittany Forbes

17:28 07 Feb 24

I went to and completed footprints it’s a great program where I learned to thrive in my recovery and built a foundation that I continuously rely on and made friends as well who continue to save me!

Denis Psatha

00:32 07 Feb 24

I never thought getting sober was a option until I went to footprints, it’s a great environment,I felt like I was at home while staying in house because everyone was very friendly,also all the therapists are very good at helping you out with any problems u may have ,they have fun activities every weekend and for the first time I’ve actually made sober friends which is very helpful even after u leave the program there always a call away!!

Marina Scruby

17:28 26 Jan 24

I graduated Footprints Beachside recovery center in Oct 23’ and am going on 9 months clean and sober. This wasn’t my first time being in treatment and i was having a hard time remaining sober for more than 2 months. If it wasn’t for this treatment center, the staff, and therapist, doesn’t matter… i wouldn’t be living the sober life i am today. Walking into Footprints was the best decision i have ever made for myself, from bowling to kayaking and going to the movies or outside AA meetings you don’t really feel like you’re in a treatment center but you also get the knowledge and tools that u need to stay sober.. the support the staff offers for the clients on a day to day basis was so helpful during my time there!!! I am forever grateful for my time at Footprints! i would suggest this place to anyone who struggles with addiction/alcoholism and is wanting to get better. Coming from Georgia was nerve wrecking but it was for the best choice for my own recovery. The foundation, sober connections and tools this rehab gave me to start my recovery journey is not something you’ll get somewhere else (in my experience)!

Just Me

22:27 12 Dec 23

I went to Footprints for 120 days and it more then likely saved my life. The therapists are great and really care about the patients. There is a lot of freedom while in treatment but it is earned. All the staff are good people and really care and help. This was the place that finally got me over my hump. Thanks Footprints for all the help and support I have received.Glenn

Mahmoud Mokhtar

18:20 29 Oct 23

Kelly was so helpful and the staff made the process easy when helping my family member. Thank you Kelly and Footprints.

Francis Weber

01:55 25 Sep 23

Footprints Beach Side Recovery goes far and above all rehabilitation centers. From Leaders to Therapists to Technicians, everyone is focused on recovery, tools, methodologies, support and genuine, loving care for it's clients.Footprints invests in the classiest, devoted and certified therapists and they are always available.Rehabilitation activities centered around sport, adventures, special guests, art and education add flavor and fun to a strong curriculum.I would vouch 100% for Footprints and recommend, without hesitation to anyone in search of care - 1 day at a time.

Riley White

14:27 22 Sep 23

footprints is like the disney world of rehabs. the clinical team truly cares about you & personalizes the course of treatment to every individual’s specific needs. i can honestly say i would not be alive today if it weren’t for this program, they gave me hope when i was hopeless & loved me when i couldn’t love myself. it’s more than just a paycheck for these people, they truly care about the clients & help cater to them in whatever way possible. 10/10 would recommend

Edward Rios

15:59 14 Apr 23

Great place for recovery. Great staff and management. Provides all the needed stepping stones to recover, from inpatient to outpatient to sober living. The sober living executive manger Paul Romero is very professional and dose a great job running the house.The president John Templeton makes sure everybody gets the individual attention they deserves. You can tell he has a passion for helping peopleThey changed my life for the better and gave me another shot at life.