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| A patient waits for a consultation with a doctor for her alcohol use disorder, at a rehab clinic in Gyeonggi Province in this file photo. Korea Times file |
By Bahk Eun-ji
More than 74,000 Koreans were treated for alcohol use disorder at rehab clinics last year, a government data showed.
According to the data in a report released by the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) last week, 74,702 people visited the facilities to treat their alcohol use disorder in 2018, slightly down from 2014's 77,869.
Among them, 77.2 percent, or about 58,000, were men, 3.4 times more than women.
More women seeking alcohol
The report said the number of women patients rose to 17,010 from 2014's 15,972 with an annual average growth of 1.6 percent, while the number of male patients is on the decline from 61,898 in 2014 to 57,692 in 2018.
While those in their 50s made up the largest number of male patients, it was people in their 40s for women.
"More men have alcohol use disorder than women in most countries … so it is assumed there are biological differences between men and women in terms of alcohol metabolism. But environmental, social and cultural reasons are also a big part of the difference," said Lee Deok-jong, a professor of the psychiatry department of NHIS Ilsan Hospital.
Lee said traditionally, men's alcohol consumption is culturally more accepted than women's, but the gap keeps narrowing as more and more women are engaged in economic activities.
"But compared with men, women are more vulnerable to alcohol-related organ damage."
When men and women of same weight consume an equal amount of alcohol, women show higher blood alcohol concentration, partly because women have lower alcoholytic enzymes than men, Lee said.
"Alcohol metabolizes slower in women's stomachs and upper intestines allowing more alcohol to reach the blood stream and other organs than in men, leading to increased organ damage including hepatosis, gastrointestinal disturbance, and cardiomyopathy."
Symptoms checklist
Alcohol use disorder can cause major health, social, and economic problems and can negatively affect individuals and others through behavior prompted by impaired decision-making abilities, such as drunk driving.
The NHIS offered symptoms of alcohol use disorder so people can self-diagnose. The signs and symptoms include: drinking more alcohol than you intended; failed attempts to reduce alcohol consumption; spending a lot of time drinking, getting alcohol or recovering from alcohol use; continuing to drink alcohol even though you know it's causing physical, social or interpersonal problems; giving up or reducing social and work activities and hobbies; using alcohol in situation where it's not safe, such as when driving or swimming; experiencing withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, sweating and shaking when you don't drink; or drinking to avoid these symptoms.
Age also seems to matter. By age group who visit rehab centers, 19,793 or 26.5 percent were in their 50s, followed by people in their 40s with 15,256 or 20.4 percent, and 60s at 13,986 or 18.7 percent.
Excessive drinking over years can lead to a condition known as alcoholic dementia, and people in their 50s and 60s are at the most risk of problems with memory, learning and other cognitive skills.
Lee said the best way to avoid excessive alcohol use is managing stressful situation without drinking.
"Many people experiencing stress turn to alcohol to cope with that stress, but the problem is alcohol itself can cause stress on the body's balance, not only physically but also psychologically," Lee said.
Lee said drinking alcohol seems to provide some relief such as giving positive feelings and relaxation in the short term, but if the stressful condition continues for a long time, heavy alcohol consumption can lead to medical and psychological problems and increase the risk of developing alcohol use disorders.
"Find another way to manage stressful situations, such as practicing yoga and meditation are helpful to promote both stress relief and sobriety."
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