Why Gender-Specific Treatment Is So Important

Each person’s experience with a substance use disorder (SUD) will differ from another’s based on many factors, such as the person’s age, drug use history, and overall health. Gender can also play a role in the effects of substance abuse, due to biological differences between men and women and distinct pressures based on society’s expectations.

Gender-specific treatment offers men and women the opportunity to receive treatment based on these specific considerations. Clients in these programs may focus on exploring gender-specific triggers, feel more comfortable when sharing in group settings, and have access to health services based on their particular health and social needs during recovery. Addiction treatment facilities across the country offer gender-specific treatment as a form of individualized care so that men and women can feel safe and supported on the road to long-term recovery.

Below we’ll further explore why gender-specific treatment is important, the various benefits men and women may receive, and examples of gender-specific treatment approaches.

How Addiction Affects Men And Women Differently

There are several gender differences when it comes to SUDs. For example, men are more likely to ingest illicit substances, such as cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) reports. Women may be more susceptible to drug cravings and relapses.

Women and men also may have developed drug addiction for varying mental, social, and physical reasons. The side effects of alcohol, stimulants, and other substances can affect men and women differently as well.

Biological Factors

Biological differences between men and women significantly influence the development and progression of drug addiction. Women’s bodies metabolize substances differently, often leading to more severe intoxication even with lower consumption. Men, typically having more muscle, can usually ingest more alcohol or substances than women before feeling intoxicating effects. However, this can lead to developing long-term dependence and physical and mental damage quicker than women.

Mental And Emotional Factors

Men and women may differ when facing mental and emotional distress, which can play out in the way they experience substance use disorders. Women are more likely to use substances as a way to cope with mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, or trauma. This makes them more likely to develop addiction as a response to emotional distress. Women may also experience heightened feelings of shame or guilt, which can impact their willingness to seek addiction treatment.

On the other hand, men are more prone to suppressing feelings and emotions. They may also act more violently or aggressively than women, which can lead to risky behaviors and decision-making while under the influence.

Societal Factors

External factors can also greatly affect someone’s outlook, self-perception, confidence, and relationship with the world. For example, women often face societal expectations to be natural caregivers, which can create overwhelming pressure and emotional stress. They also more frequently experience domestic violence, sexual harassment and abuse, and workplace inequality, which can contribute to drug use as a coping mechanism, sometimes leading to addiction. Women may also encounter greater stigma surrounding addiction, especially if they are mothers.

Whereas women are expected to be selfless, men are frequently influenced to equate masculinity with strength, self-reliance, and emotional restraint. This can lead to substance use as a way to manage stress or conform to peer pressure, especially in social or work-related environments that normalize heavy drinking or drug use. Men may delay seeking treatment due to fears of appearing weak.

Types Of Substances Used By Men Vs. Women

Gender can affect how addiction takes form emotionally, socially, and physically. It can also determine what sort of substances someone may decide to use.

Alcohol

Men generally drink more alcohol than women do. Studies consistently show that men are more likely to engage in heavy drinking, binge drinking, and develop alcohol use disorders (AUDs). The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) reports that males in the U.S. drink almost three times the amount that females do each year. Additionally, more males are diagnosed every year with AUD than females.

However, the gap may be narrowing, as women’s drinking rates have risen in recent years, according to an analysis of six different national surveys between 2000 and 2016 published in the journal Alcohol: Clinical and Experimental Research. The data suggests that the number of women ages 18 and older who drink each year increased by 6%, but for men the number decreased by 0.2%. It also showed that the number of women who binge drink increased by 14%, but for men only increased by 0.5%.

Other Depressants

Though men typically drink more alcohol than women, women are more likely than men to misuse other depressants, such as prescription sedatives and tranquilizers. Women are more often prescribed medications for anxiety, insomnia, or stress-related conditions, making them more likely to misuse these medications. However, men are more likely to misuse them in combination with other substances, such as alcohol.

Opioids

Women and men ingest opioids at comparable rates, but their patterns differ. Women are more likely to be prescribed opioids for pain management. They may develop dependency faster than men, a phenomenon called “telescoping.” Women also face higher risks of co-occurring mental health disorders, such as an anxiety disorder or depression, which can contribute to misuse. Men, however, are more likely to obtain opioids through illicit means and are at higher risk for overdose deaths.

Stimulants

In an attempt to increase energy and focus levels, men tend to ingest stimulants more than women for work results and societal pressures. Men are also more likely to use stimulants recreationally or in high-risk settings, leading to higher rates of addiction. However, women are more likely to misuse prescription stimulants, such as those for ADHD, to lose weight, increase productivity, or cope with stress.

Benefits Of Gender-Specific Addiction Treatment

Gender-specific treatment can help clients feel at ease during the recovery process and lead them to understand and address some of the pressures and health-related issues linked to their addiction.

Provides A Safe, Supportive Environment

For many people, mixed-gender treatment settings can feel intimidating or uncomfortable, particularly when discussing sensitive topics such as trauma, relationships, or societal pressures. Women may feel safer in female-only groups, especially if they have experienced domestic violence or sexual abuse. Female-focused groups can help women open up without fear of judgment or re-traumatization. Similarly, men may struggle to be vulnerable or wish to appear strong around women. Gender-specific programs create a space where men can explore issues like anger, stress, or emotional suppression without stigma.

Focuses On Gender-Specific Triggers

Triggers to use drugs or alcohol can manifest differently for men and women. Women may face triggers related to traditional ideas of femininity, such as body image or beauty, and are more likely to experience domestic violence and sexual abuse, which can be extremely triggering. Similarly, men may experience triggers related to masculinity, such as the pressure to be financially successful, emotionally stoic, or dominant in relationships. Gender-specific treatment may focus on building self-worth, managing trauma, and developing strategies for women, while exploring managing stress, expressing emotions healthily, and challenging harmful stereotypes for men.

Addresses Related Health Issues

Gender-specific programs can also focus on different health issues that men and women experience. Women in recovery frequently face health challenges such as hormonal imbalances, reproductive concerns, or conditions linked to long-term substance use like osteoporosis or cardiovascular issues. Programs designed for women may include prenatal care, guidance on family planning, or support for managing menopause-related symptoms. Gender-specific treatment for men often incorporates physical fitness, stress management, and education on preventing long-term health complications from liver damage, high blood pressure, or injuries resulting from risky behaviors associated with substance use.

Examples Of Gender-Specific Treatment Options

Gender-specific treatment approaches can help women and men reach long-term recovery goals.

Group Therapy

Group therapy is a feature of many drug treatment programs. Men-only and women-only groups help to create a sense of camaraderie, understanding, and safety among men or women. For women, groups may focus on trauma, body image, or relationship dynamics, while men’s groups often address issues like anger, emotional suppression, and toxic masculinity.

Trauma-Informed Care

Many people entering drug rehab programs carry trauma from adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) or other challenging or terrifying experiences. These intense instances of emotion can create deep emotional scars, with people turning to substances to cope. Trauma groups for women tend to center around sexual assault, violence, body dysmorphia, or eating disorders. Men-only groups may focus on work-related incidents, early childhood periods of violence, or neglect by parents.

Parenting And Family Therapy

Gender-specific therapy helps men and women strengthen family connections, improve communication, and look at their unique position as husbands and wives, fathers and mothers. A woman in a parenting therapy session may learn to have more confidence in approaching motherhood, while a man may learn to communicate more effectively with his partner and children. Family therapy can also help stop the generational cycle of addiction often perpetuated in American families.

Anger Management

This type of gender-specific treatment is typically used more for men, because they may experience more fits of rage, violence, and lethargy toward themselves or others than women. These classes teach men, and women, how to not take on the stress of the world on your shoulders, let others have their own journeys, and look at the selfishness of anger. These classes may also teach mindfulness-based practices, such as yoga and meditation.

Find Treatment At Bedrock Recovery Center Today

At Bedrock Recovery Center, we take all of your needs into account when making your individualized treatment plan. Call us today to learn more.