As Women’s Health Month wraps up, the focus shifts to the rising concern of alcohol misuse among women, in Michigan and nationwide.
According to recent research, about one in five Michigan women between ages 18 to 44 said they drank “excessively” – meaning four or more alcoholic beverages in a day – or they regularly had eight or more drinks a week. Medical data show heavy drinking raises the risks of organ damage, cancer and pregnancy complications among women.
Family medicine physician Dr. Asha Shajahan at Corewell Health in Michigan says the COVID-19 pandemic played a role in the uptick in alcohol use.
“A lot of home drinking that was going on during the pandemic,” Shajahan said. “Most people are saying that they are drinking because they’re using it as a stress relief. I always tell them alcohol should not be used as a way to relax or a way to solve any problems or issues that you’re having.”
Shajahan says research also shows women tend to face greater risks of social fallout associated with alcohol misuse. A 2024 University of Michigan study found both men and women, ages 35 to 60, are drinking more than ever, with high school binge drinking linked to risky midlife use.
In 2023, more than 23,000 women in Michigan sought treatment for substance use disorders in general. One resource for people who are concerned about their alcohol intake is the Substance Abuse and Addiction Helpline, at 844-289-0879.
