Drugs & Alcohol – Women's Mid-Life Health Program

Your questions, answered.

We have gathered a list of the most common questions women ask regarding topics that affect your overall health and well-being.

By definition, menopause has occurred when your menstrual period has stopped for 12 months (no more periods!), which means your ovaries are no longer functioning. When women say they are “menopausal”, most often they are experiencing symptoms of the transition to menopause, called the perimenopause.

Women are 50%-100% more likely to die from alcohol-related disorders than men
Nearly 50% of prescription drugs commonly taken by mid-life women can interact with alcohol
52.8% of men and 37.2% of women over age 60 currently drink at least some alcohol
Drinking 1 drink/day can lower your risk for heart disease, type 2 diabetes, dementia, obesity, and stroke
People who drink moderately (7/week with no more than 3/day) have stronger bones than non-drinkers
Wine provides more benefits than other types of alcohol

A score of 5 or more “yes” responses indicates a potential alcohol problem and suggests the need for further assessment.
Consider talking to your doctor if you scored more than 5.

After drinking, have you ever noticed an increase in your heart rate or beating in your chest?
When talking with others, do you ever underestimate how much you actually drink?
Does alcohol make you sleepy so that you often fall asleep in your chair?
After a few drinks, have you sometimes not eaten or been able to skip a meal?
Does having a few drinks help decrease your shakiness or tremors?
Does alcohol sometimes make it hard for you to remember parts of the day or night?
Do you have rules for yourself that you won’t drink before a certain time of the day?

Have you lost interest in hobbies or activities you used to enjoy?
When you wake up in the morning do you have trouble remembering the night before?
Does having a drink help you sleep?
Do you hide your alcohol bottles from family members?
After a social gathering have you ever felt embarrassed because you drank too much?
Have you ever been concerned that drinking might be harmful to your health?
Do you like to end an evening with a nightcap?
Did you find your drinking increased after someone close to you has died?
In general, would you prefer to have a few drinks at home rather than go out to social events?

Are you drinking more now than in the past?
Do you usually take a drink to relax or calm your nerves?
Have you ever increased your drinking after experiencing a loss in your life?
Do you sometimes drive when you have had too much to drink?
Has a doctor or nurse ever said they were worried or concerned about your drinking?
Have you ever made rules to manage your drinking?
When you feel lonely does having a drink help?
* MAST-GV screening tool by Joseph, Ganzini, & Atkinson (1995)

Deciding to cut back or quit drinking completely is a choice that some people find easier than others. Here are some tips and tricks that can help you make a plan to modify your drinking habits:

Weigh your pros and cons
Keep track of how often you drink
Ask for support from friends, family, or a health professional
Pace yourself when you are drinking – sip slowly
Allow every second drink to be non-alcoholic, like water
Don’t drink on an empty stomach
Find new activities or hobbies to occupy your time
Avoid the triggers that make you turn to drinking
Find distractions when you have the urge to drink
Decide to say “no” when offered a drink

Learn about counting alcohol calories, your personal alcohol pattern, and much more at www.rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov
Contact HealthLine at 811 and ask to speak to an Addictions or Mental Health Counsellor
Get in contact with someone from Alcoholics Anonymous by calling 306-665-6727 or visit their website at www.aasask.org
Call the Saskatoon Health Region’s Mental Health and Addictions Services at 306-655-7777 if you have questions
Check to see if there are mental health and addictions services near you
Talk to your doctor if you need help starting

Goldstein, N., Hodgson, N., Savage, C., & Walton-Moss, B. (2015). Alcohol use and the older adult woman. Journal of Nurse Practitioners, 11(4), p.436-442.

Joseph, C., Ganzini, L., & Atkinson, R. (1995) Screening for alcohol use disorders in the nursing home. Journal of American Geriatric Society, 43, 368–373.
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. (2016). Rethinking drinking: Alcohol and your health. Retrieved from http://rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov/Default.aspx

North American Menopause Society (2016). Drink to Your Health at Menopause, or Not? Retrieved from http://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopauseflashes/exercise-and-diet/drink-to-your-health-at-menopause-or-not

Stevenson, J. (2005). Alcohol use, misuse, abuse, and dependence in later adulthood. Annual Review of Nursing Research, 23245-280 36p.

Created by Katie Cotter for:
The Women’s Mid-life Health Program
Saskatchewan Collaborative Bachelor of Science in Nursing. March 2016

Marijuana may seem like a good way to relax after a long, stressful day; however, it is important to be educated about how this drug affects your body. Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug in North America with nearly 7% of Canadians aged 45-64 using the drug – and this number is on the rise!

Euphoria
Talkativeness
Intensification of sensory experiences
Difficulty concentrating
Altered time perception
Relaxation and drowsiness
Imparied reaction time

May trigger or aggravate psychiatric or mood disorders (schizophrenia, psychosis, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder)
Increases risk for chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, pneumonia and other lung conditions
Decreases sperm count, concentration and motility
Negatively affects cognition such as memory and judgement
May lead to dependence/addiction: Inability to control drug use, compulsive use, continued use despite harm, and craving the drug

Though there is no proven link to suggest that marijuana smoke causes lung cancer, many studies suggest that smoking marijuana can increase your risk because:

Marijuana helps you fall asleep faster, but decreases the REM cycle of your sleep which helps you feel restored! The REM cycle is especially important for sleep during menopause!

Many studies suggest that marijuana impairs driving similar to that of a person driving with a blood alcohol content of >0.8 mg/ml. Marijuana hinders one’s ability to react appropriately to traffic and adjust to the speed of oncoming vehicles.

Many individuals can develop an addiction to marijuana. Be aware of the common symptoms of withdrawal:

Bouts of anger or aggression
Irritability and/or restlessness
Anxiety
Nightmares/strange dreams
Insomnia/sleep difficulties
Headaches
Decreased appetite or weight loss
Depressed mood
Physical symptoms such as chills, stomach pain, shakiness and sweating

*Consult your doctor for tips for withdrawing if you are more than just an occasional user.

Make a list of reasons to quit and review them frequently
Exercise and eat healthy foods. Taking care of your body helps it heal from the harmful effects of marijuana
Consider not seeing friends who are still using marijuana
Find new activities and goals to replace ones that involved your marijuana use
Find other things to do with your hands such as clicking a pen or playing with string
Give yourself a second to think and let the urge to smoke pass
Drink water when you feel an urge
Keep a positive attitude

*Long term effects may be largely, but not completely reversible if marijuana use is stopped

Bosker, W. M., Kuypers, K. C., Theunissen, E. L., Surinx, A., Blankespoor, R. J., Skopp, G., & … Ramaekers, J. G. (2012). Medicinal Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (dronabinol) impairs on-the-road driving performance of occasional and heavy cannabis users but is not detected in Standard Field Sobriety Tests. Addiction, 107(10), 1837-1844. doi:10.1111/j.1360-0443.2012.03928.x

Health Canada. Consumer information – cannabis (marihuana, marijuana). Retrieved from http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/marihuana/info/cons-eng.php

Rx Files. (2014). Drug comparison charts (10th ed.).

Schierenbeck, T., Riemann, D., Berger, M., & Hornyak, M. (2008). Effect of illicit recreational drugs upon sleep: Cocaine, ecstasy and marijuana. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 12(5), 381-389. doi:10.1016/j.smrv.2007.12.004

Schoeler, T., Kambeitz, J., Behlke, I., Murray, R., & Bhattacharyya, S. (2016). The effects of cannabis on memory function in users with and without a psychotic disorder: Findings from a combined meta-analysis. Psychological Medicine, 46(1), 177-188. doi:10.1017/S0033291715001646

Weiss, P. (2008). Oncology myths and legends. Does smoking marijuana contribute to the risk of developing lung cancer? Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, 12(3), 517-519. doi:10.1188/08.CJON.517-519

Created by Katie Cotter for:
Women’s Mid-life Health Program
Saskatchewan Collaborative Bachelor of Science in Nursing, March 2016