How Gender Can Affect Addiction
If you are someone you know is suffering from a substance abuse issue, then it is important for you to place your loved one in the best position possible to recover. One of the issues that has to be discussed involves gender and addiction. Even though both men and women suffer from addiction issues, men’s rehab and women’s rehab often look like different places. The reason why a women’s rehab program looks different than a men’s program is that gender can impact addiction and substance abuse disorder. What are some of the essential points that people need to keep in mind?
Women Use Drugs Differently Than Men
First, men are more likely than women to abuse almost every type of illicit substance. On the other hand, women are just as likely as men to develop a substance abuse disorder. This means that women use drugs differently than men. Therefore, it is critical to focus on these differences during the treatment process.
Early medical research regarding addiction and substance abuse disorders almost exclusively focused on men. As a result, many initial treatment programs were focused on helping men recover from addiction and substance abuse disorders. With all of this in mind, women often experience unique obstacles in the addiction treatment process. This is one reason why men’s rehab and women’s rehab need to be different when it comes to effective treatment. This is one of the most crucial points regarding gender and addiction.
Some Treatment Programs Don’t Focus on Women’s Needs
All addiction and substance abuse treatments have been thoroughly tested in clinical trials before they are rolled out. This includes everything from therapy sessions to medications. On the other hand, a lot of the older treatments have not been tested adequately on women.
When these clinical trials first took place decades ago, there might not have been many women enrolling in these clinical trials. As a result, treatment options might be effective in men; however, they might not necessarily be as effective in women. Therefore, it is important for medical providers, patients, and families to make sure that all treatment options that are prescribed have been tailored to meet the needs of the patient.
Addressing the Barrier of Childcare
Finally, there are a few other barriers to treatment as well. Even though both men and women are responsible for raising children, women are still more likely to be the primary caregiver when it comes to raising children. The reality is that adequate childcare can be a significant barrier to the addiction recovery process. In some cases, women might not make their therapy appointments because they do not have someone to take care of their child. This is simply unacceptable, and there need to be more treatment options available for women, including childcare.
That is where we can help you. At Alina Lodge, we focus on providing everyone with access to comprehensive addiction treatment programs.
This includes:
- The latest prescription medications
- Unique therapy programs
- Plenty of clinical staff
Rely on us to help you get set up with a complete substance abuse treatment plan.
Contact Alina Lodge Today for More Information on Gender and Addiction
Gender and addiction represent one of the most significant challenges facing the healthcare system today. At Alina Lodge, we do our best to tailor all of our treatment options to meet our patients’ unique needs. We would be happy to do the same for you. We understand that everyone is coming from a slightly different place when it comes to addiction therapy. We will work hard to customize all of our services to meet your individual needs. Contact our team today at 833.685.1700 to learn more about how we can help you with the recovery process.
