Drug Treatment For Women

Drug rehab for women is focused on making sure that the specific substance abuse and addiction treatment needs of women are met. These programs and services exist because drug addiction in women tends to have unique origins and progression - meaning that it often requires specific rehabilitation methods.

Now, research indicate that drug and alcohol abuse among women - as well as all other issues involving this type of drug and alcohol addiction differs from what men experience. As such, it can be beneficial for you to go for alcohol and drug rehab regimens tailored for women.

In fact, addicted women are inclined to have different mental profiles and narratives in comparison to addicted men. In particular, most women tend to begin abusing drugs and other intoxicating substances as a coping mechanism to deal with emotional pain and trauma. Women might also experience a broader range of cultural challenges and social issues that most men don't necessarily experience.

Today, therefore, alcohol and drug rehabilitation for women can be an effective alternative to alcohol and drug rehab versus checking into a traditional drug and alcohol rehab program.

Understanding Drug Treatment For Women

According to Psychiatric Times, women are close to half as likely as men to start abusing, become tolerant and dependent, and eventually suffer the problem of drug addiction. Although, both women and men tend to use prescription medications at about the same rates.

In the past, most drug and alcohol rehab centers focused more on men because they made up the largest part of the population that uses alcohol and drugs. Now, recent research indicates that women would benefit more from a program directed at their unique needs and requirements than if they enrolled in a mainstream drug addiction rehab center.

Even though the gender gap between women and men who are addicted and abuse drugs and alcohol seems to be closing in, it is certain that more women require specialized treatment to make sure that they do not relapse and can overcome their addiction.

Women, Substance Abuse, And Addiction

According to research, women tend to use drugs for shorter periods of time compared to men - although they have a higher rate of addiction. This is due to the fact that intoxicating substances tend to change brain chemistry. For women, these changes might occur faster and evolve into alcohol and drug dependence - which would later progress to addiction and compulsive alcohol and drug use.

NIDA also reports than women are more susceptible than men to alcohol and drug cravings. Women are also more inclined to relapse. This might be due to the fact that women tend to metabolize drugs and alcohol at different rates, which may raise their risk of dependence. Similarly, women don't weigh as much and - as such - experience lower levels of the needed enzymes that are important to break down alcohol and other intoxicating substances.

Additionally, the hormonal changes that are generally associated with pregnancy, menopause, and menstruation might also influence the drug and alcohol addiction vulnerability for women. For example, pregnancy could make it more challenging for some women to deal with drug addiction and alcohol and drug abuse.

Aside from the above, women face significant stigma with addiction - especially those who are pregnant or are mothers. Due to this, alcohol and drug rehabilitation for women should focus on treating all these challenges to ensure that the clients are rehabilitated fully and begin living life free from drugs, alcohol, and other intoxicating substances.

How Drug Treatment For Women Works

As a woman, there are many potential barriers that may keep you from enrolling in rehab. These barriers are often specific and unique to women and can include, but are not limited to:

• Financial hardship
• Family responsibilities and childcare challenges
• Transportation issues
• Cultural and social stigma
• The presence of dual diagnosis or co-occurring disorders

Therefore, drug rehabilitation for women can help you conquer most if not all of these barriers to your sobriety. The program can also provide highly specialized treatment methods in an environment only populated by women.

Additionally, the centers may focus on:

• Helping you learn to deal with cultural expectations, stigma, and stress
• Dealing with all co-occurring disorders
• Minimizing the risk of relapse
• Providing childcare services for your family (if any)
• Offering transportation services for you
• Your emotional needs

Importance Of Drug Treatment For Women

The challenges that women face daily considerably influence their inclination to abuse drugs as a means of coping. Because of this, most of the women who have drug and alcohol addiction issues tend to have also experienced sexual or physical abuse at one point or the other in their lifetimes. Therefore, if you were sexually or physically harmed, you might turn to drugs or alcohol to mask your pain and stress and try to forget that it happened in the first place.

That said, drug and alcohol treatment for women might help women work through all the traumatic issues and problems that you may have run into and which could be contributing to or aggravating your alcohol and drug use disorder, co-occurring mental health conditions, and drug and alcohol addiction.

Additionally, the role you are supposed to play in your family might have an impact on your predisposition to alcohol and drug abuse. If you have children, a husband or wife, or aging family members, you may be required to take care of them in ways that a man would not. These roles will further be aggravated if you need to make money and continue providing for those you are responsible for without any help from a partner. Over time, you may begin using alcohol and drugs to deal with your stressful life - an issue that can be resolved through drug and alcohol rehab for women.

If you are addicted to intoxicating substances, you might fear that your children will be removed from your life if you seek rehab. As you continue trying to hold your family together and deal with your addiction, you may soon feel that you are in a no-win situation and that it is difficult for you to come out of without external assistance.

In all of these instances, the ideal solution would be to look for a rehab program that caters to women. The drug rehab for women can assist in making all the arrangements required to ensure that you can carry on taking care of your responsibilities while you undergo detoxification, rehabilitation, therapy, and other forms of rehabilitation for drug addiction.

Overall, alcohol and drug rehab for women is effective in most situations and cases. It allows for life skills building, emotional support, therapy and counseling sessions, and more. At the end of treatment, you should be able to overcome your drug and alcohol addiction and beat your drug use disorder.