Rise in female alcoholism

There is a steep rise in the number of Cork women undergoing treatment for addiction, specifically alcohol, according to new figures.

Over the past number of years, there has been an increase in the number of women attending residential rehabilitation centre Tabor Lodge for addiction.

Tabor Lodge revealed to the Cork Independent that in the first quarter of 2016, it admitted 65 people for addiction treatment and 32 of these were women. This represents nearly a 50:50 ratio of men to women. In previous years, 33 per cent of its annual population was female.

In 2013, one-third of those being treated for addiction were women, but this rose to 40 per cent in 2014 and stayed that way for 2015.

Looking at last year’s statistics, 170 of the 218 people admitted to Tabor Lodge stated that their drug of choice was alcohol. The centre said it is to be expected that this would also be the case for the female patients attending Tabor Lodge. Cannabis, opiates and benzodiazepines affected 17 per cent of residents.

When asked why there are more women addicted to alcohol Mick Devine, Tabor Group Clinical Director, told the Cork Independent: “The increase in the availability of alcohol in retail outlets will contribute to the increase in women’s consumption of alcohol. Drinking alcohol in the home is also a more acceptable practice in recent years and also contributes to an increase in the women presenting to Tabor Lodge for treatment.

“Along with alcohol, many of the women presenting for treatment will also use medication. This may be prescribed medication, over the counter medication or medication obtained on the street

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