Women, Alcohol and Addiction

Millions of women in the U.S. engage in drinking behavior that poses a substantial risk to their health and well-being, particularly young women in their late teens and early twenties. Addiction researcher Audrey Klein, PhD., joins host William C. Moyers to take a closer look at what's behind the increased rates of binge and heavy drinking among women, why addiction progresses more rapidly for women than men, and what kinds of medical, mental health and other complications are associated with hazardous drinking for women. Klein also addresses the shame factor: Women typically wait longer than men to seek help for addiction, resulting in a more severe progression of the disease.