여성의 중독에 관한 생물학적 문제들 : 알코올을 중심으로

Abstract

Prevalence of substance-related disorders has been consistently higher in men population, especially in alcohol-related disorder. However, recent epidemiological surveys suggest that the gap between men and women has narrowed. Women become intoxicated after drinking smaller quantities of alcohol than men. This may be due to less total body water, small amount of gastric alcohol dehydrogenase, and slower gastric emptying time. Chronic alcohol use is associated with alcoholic liver disease, breast cancer, obstetric complications, and osteoporosis in women, even though relatively short and less consumption. Alcohol has enormous effect on neuroendocrine and neurotransmitter system; there also are gender differences at molecular level. But, their implications in dependence are not yet clear. The studies of brain atrophy in alcohol dependence are consistent with greater sensitivity to alcohol neurotoxicity among women. The interval between the age of first drinking and treatment-seeking seems to be shorter for women than for men. But, there’s no gender difference for long term relapse rate. Moreover, it is unclear whether gender-specific treatments are superior. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder is another gender-specific issue. Especially in women of childbearing age, alcohol use is associated with spontaneous abortion, birth defect, delayed development, and cognitive and emotional problems of offspring.