The Yale Program on Sex Differences in Alcohol Use Disorder, led by Dr. Sherry McKee, reveals that female AUD displays unique neurobiological, psychological, and treatment-related characteristics distinct from male AUD. This necessitates a tailored, sex-specific approach to treatment, as ongoing clinical trials investigate the efficacy of medications like naltrexone and varenicline for women. Notably, recent findings indicate that women's alcohol consumption patterns have aligned with or surpassed men's, leading to increased health risks. The multitude of differences calls for attention to the specific needs of women in treatment methodologies.
"Alcohol use disorder is incredibly heterogeneous," says Sherry McKee, PhD, professor of psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine (YSM) and director of the Yale SCORE program. "Not every medication is going to work for every person. And one of the key pieces that's been missing in our research is a focus on sex ...."
A recent Yale press release highlights significant differences between women and men regarding AUD, binge drinking, metabolism, the risk of overdose/poisoning, and treatment. Despite alcohol being a Group 1 carcinogen, meaning it's known to cause cancer in humans, and the World Health Organization (WHO) declaring no level of alcohol consumption as safe, alcohol consumption continues to rise. In fact, alcohol risks are more pronounced and life-threatening in women.
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