Men are more likely than women to drink too much alcohol and they’re three times more likely to develop problems with alcohol than women.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) about 17% of men and about 8% of women will meet criteria for alcohol dependence at some point in their lives. They’re also more likely than women to take risks when they’re drinking (like driving fast or without a seat belt) so they’re risk for injury or death when drinking is higher than it is for women. In fact, men consistently have higher rates of alcohol-related deaths and hospitalizations than women.
Here are some other facts about men who drink alcohol:
- When looking at drivers in fatal motor-vehicle traffic accidents, men are almost twice as likely as women to have been intoxicated.
- Excessive alcohol consumption increases aggression so increases the risk of physical violence.
- Men are more likely than women to commit suicide, and more likely to have been drinking prior to committing suicide.
- Excessive alcohol use can interfere with testicular function and male hormone production resulting in impotence and infertility.
- Alcohol consumption increases the risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, liver and colon in men.
- Men average about 12.5 binge drinking episodes per person per year, while women average about 2 binge drinking episodes per year.
If you think you might have an issue with drug or alcohol use or if you love someone who seems to have a problem, getting good information and education is key to making a decision about what to do next. Call a local drug and alcohol treatment center, our admissions office here at New Bridge Foundation® or your healthcare insurance provider to find out about the resources in your area.
