Women’s alcohol use in mid-life: Identifying associations between menopause symptoms, drinking behaviour, and mental health Emma L Davies 1, Sam Burton 2,3, Rebecca Monk 4, Elena Murdoch 2, Eiluned Pearce 1,5, Abigail K Rose

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12511719/?utm_source=SAMHSA&utm_campaign=b9884a6b85-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2026_05_14_01_08&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-b9884a6b85-167840245 Why Menopause Matters in Substance Use Disorder Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery By: Berlina Wallace-Berube, MACP, MEd, LCPC, NCC, Senior Public Health Advisor, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment For many women, midlife is a period of significant biological, psychological, and social changes. One of the biggest is menopause, and there’s a growing understanding of how these hormonal changes can affect mood, sleep, cognition, and stress response. One important yet often overlooked factor is the connection between menopause and substance use. Emerging evidence shows that going the menopause transition can influence substance use patterns, including a woman’s risk of escalating substance use and recurrence after a period of recovery. A Review of Cognitive, Sleep, and Mood Changes in the Menopausal Transition: Beyond Vasomotor Symptoms Makeba Williams 1, Pauline M Maki https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40403308/ From physiology to psychology: An integrative review of menopausal syndrome Xiao-Lin Lang 1, Chang-Chang Huang 2, Hong-Yin Cui 3, Huan-Xin Zhong 4, Min-Yan Shen 5, Fen Zhao 6 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12635657/?utm_source=SAMHSA&utm_campaign=b9884a6b85-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2026_05_14_01_08&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-b9884a6b85-167840245