Addiction doesn’t discriminate. Regardless of race, social class, and gender, addiction is a debilitating disease that can destroy an individual’s personal and professional life. While addiction can affect anyone, it’s essential to understand the differences between gender and addiction, especially when it comes to addiction treatment. In this article, you’ll learn more about how gender affects addiction and the benefits of gender-specific addiction treatment.
At Pathways Recovery, we provide addiction treatment centers for men and women’s Sacramento drug rehabs to receive tailored treatment to break free of the chains of addiction for good. We use a highly individualized approach to ensure every patient receives unique care and support to maintain life-long sobriety. Our addiction treatment for women is a women’s only, trauma-focused dual diagnosis treatment center designed to specifically help women have a successful recovery. Our addiction treatment for men uses a customized dual-diagnosis treatment approach to help men break free of addiction.
Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you on your road to recovery.
How Does Gender Effect Addiction?
There are several gender differences when it comes to addiction. Specifically, differences in how drugs and alcohol impact men and women. And why men and women may choose to abuse addictive substances in the first place.
First, from a biological perspective, men are typically larger than women. This means that men can, on average, consume more of an addictive substance than women before overdosing. This basic biological difference shows that women who consume the same quantity of addictive substances as men are at a heightened risk of overdosing. Likewise, women are more susceptible to relapsing, which is a huge barrier to achieving long-term sobriety.
Next, why a woman chooses to abuse drugs and alcohol in the first place is often different than men. While men may be more influenced by environmental factors/peer pressure, women tend to abuse drugs and alcohol as a means to cope with trauma or an underlying mental health condition. Therefore, understanding the reason why an addict may have chosen to abuse drugs and alcohol in the first place can help when it comes to providing accurate and tailored addiction treatment.
What is Gender-Specific Treatment?
Gender-specific treatment is drug and alcohol treatment specially designed to help treat men and women. The gender-specific treatment provides more customized treatment to more accurately target and treat their addiction. This can be seen in a variety of ways through gender-specific group therapy, addiction specialists specifically trained to help treat a specific gender, etc.
For instance, when it comes to group therapy sessions, clients may be able to better connect and feel more comfortable sharing their personal stories surrounded by other clients of the same gender.
What are the Benefits of Gender-Specific Addiction Treatment?
Gender-specific treatment provides the opportunity for clients to receive more customized support and care to successfully overcome their addiction. There are several benefits of gender-specific addiction treatment, including:
- Clients receive more specialized care for a more successful recovery
- Fewer distractions in treatment to be distracted by the opposite gender
- Shared peer support by being able to relate more with clients of the same gender
- Clients are more likely to engage if they feel more comfortable (i.e., in group therapy sessions)
- More attention is given to gender-specific issues so clients can understand how their gender can play a role in their addiction
Ultimately, there are many benefits of gender-specific addiction treatment. Gender-specific treatment provides a more comfortable environment for clients to open up and engage with clients of the same gender more seamlessly compared to being in a co-ed addiction treatment center.
How to Find a Gender-Specific Addiction Treatment Program in Sacramento
Seeking gender-specific addiction treatment can provide a more tailored treatment plan to help effectively overcome your addiction. In comparison, not all addiction treatment centers provide gender-specific care, research online and contact a gender-specific treatment program near you that can help you on your path to recovery.
At Pathways Recovery, we are a gender-specific addiction center that helps clients receive customized care to better overcome their addiction. We use a holistic approach to treat the whole person to live a long-lasting life of sobriety. Pathways Recovery is a top-rated drug rehab in Sacramento. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, contact us today to learn how we can help you break free of addiction.
