Show Women Who Drink Should Take Precautions Against Hazards Of Alcohol I I Human Side I 1 By Diane Cashel Drug Alcohol Education Women are working more driving driving driving dri dri- dri- dri ving more and drinking more These lifestyle changes also mean they are dying more on the nations nation's high high- ways The roles of women have changed drastically since 1970 More women are in the work force There have been dramatic shifts in martial status with high divorce and separation separation separation tion rates Women are delaying marriage marriage marriage mar mar- or choosing not to marry Women's roles are changing so rapidly that it is very difficult to respond to emerging problems Women have traditionally been viewed as non-drinkers non particularly in public But recent surveys indicate that younger women are increasing their alcohol use Not only are they drinking drinking drinking drink drink- ing more often but they are drinking in greater quantities Women's driving patterns have changed along with their new roles More women are driving dr ing more miles and driving at high risk times such as late at night From 1975 to 1990 the number of women killed in traffic accidents rose roseby roseby roseby by 60 percent while the number of men drivers killed rose by 10 percent Society's acceptance of changes in the drinking patterns of women are reflected in the depiction of drinking scenarios on time prime-time TV and in alcohol advertising We now see women on television drinking to relieve stress and to have havea a good time Alcohol effects men and women differently Physiological effects of alcohol j jare are different for men and women j Women's bodies are less to j alcohol than men Given the same amount of alcohol per body bodyweight j weight females will achieve a higher blood alcohol concentration than males They will take longer to eliminate eliminate eliminate elim elim- i alcohol from their systems i completely Alcohol also depletes calcium from the bones reducing bone strength women of course have much smaller bones than men and therefore less calcium to spare On the whole women drinkers are more vulnerable to fractures than men drinkers Women must recognize recognize recognize nize as well as men that equality is not synonymous with identity If you have any questions or concerns concerns concerns con con- cerns about this article please feel free to contact Diane at 1 kJ R Rl f l S St. y t. t 4 j r y p DRUNK DRIVING DOESN'T JUST KILL DRUNK DRIVERS Alonzo Drake killed 91 17 at 10 on Robbins Bobbins Rd Harvest Han AL Next time your friend insists on driving drunk do whatever it takes to stop him Because if he kills innocent people how will you live with yourself FRIENDS t DONT DON'T tt 1141 LET FRIENDS t DRIVE t DRUNK t |