Can this be true?
The March issue of Girlfriends magazine in one of their little news bites, published these statistics:
- Lesbians with drinking problems - 35%
- Women with drinking problems - 5%
- Lesbians who are “alcoholics” - 33%
- Lesbians using alcohol to cope - 59%
Sources: Saghir and Robbins, 1973; Fiffield, DeCrenzo, and Latham, 1975; Gillow and Davis, 1987; University of Illinois at Chicago College of Nursing, 2002
I find these statistics very disturbing. It seems hard to believe that one third of all lesbians are alcoholics. I am sure that all of us know a few women who have a drinking problem; but for me, the ratio is no where near one third of my friends. From my unscientific count, the alcoholic rate among my friends is less than 10%. But, it could be that I live in a location that for one reason or another is atypical. I’m curious to hear from you......does this statistic
seem off-base or right on? Leave a comment, and let’s hear what everyone has to say.
And if the 33% alcoholic rate is correct, then why are lesbians so much more prone to drinking problems than our heterosexual sisters? Is it because we tend to spend a large amount of our time socializing in gay bars for lack of better alternatives? Or is it caused by stress, escapism or something else inherent emotionally to being lesbian? What do you think?
10:48:09 PM 
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