Adolescent Substance Abuse Articles
Economic status may affect drinking
By Staff Writer
The results of a recent study on drinking habits and financial status revealed that men living in low-income neighborhoods consume more than three times as many alcoholic drinks as women.
In the study, which appears in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, researchers found that neighborhood affluence has different affects on the amount of alcohol men and women consume.
A woman's location was shown to have little affect on their drinking habits. Females living in low-income neighborhoods drank 2.6 drinks each week, while those in affluent settings consumed 2.2 beverages.
However, Males in low-income areas consumed 8.5 drinks a week, while those in wealthier neighborhoods had 4.5 beverages.
For the researchers, the differences between male and female drinking habits might be due to their environments and the ways in which they cope with stress. Certain neighborhoods may promote heavier alcohol use among men, which makes individuals in these areas more likely to engage in this behavior.
In addition, the researchers feel that men who are experiencing stress might turn to alcohol while women tend to internalize their concerns and form depression or anxiety.
Based on their findings, the researchers recommend community and health services consider environmental factors when providing substance abuse help for individuals suffering from an addiction.
