The Importance of Drug Treatment for Women

There are differences between men and women who suffer from substance abuse. For example, women are much more likely to have children living at home. They are also younger, have lower incomes and are more likely to be unemployed. Women are impacted by social stigma more than men because of things like how society treats women who use drugs when they are pregnant and the lack of affordable child care.

There are also different reasons why men and women start using drugs, and there appear to be differences in the consequences that men and women suffer from after using drugs for extended periods of time. The social and psychological differences between men and women have implications for the treatment of substance abuse, and because women have unique needs that must be met during treatment, specialized treatments have been developed.

Orchid Recovery Center is a substance abuse center that focuses on treating women who are suffering from substance abuse and drug addiction. Because Orchid focuses on treating only women, our entire repertoire of holistic therapies is built to meet the needs of women specifically.

The Importance of Drug Treatment for Women: Economic Considerations

There are not only legal and logistical problems for women who want to seek treatment, but there are economic consequences as well. Because women who seek treatment often have less education than their male counterparts, they are also more likely to suffer from economic hardships. In an HMO study, it was shown that women were more likely than men to have lower incomes and were less likely to be employed when entering treatment. Additionally, even when women are insured when they begin treatment, a higher percentage of women than men have public insurance rather than private which can hinder their options as well.

The Importance of Drug Treatment for Women: Psychological Issues

In addition to suffering from various medical issues, women drug abusers are also at a higher risk of developing psychological issues. Psychological problems such as depression, anxiety, phobias, eating disorders, and psychosexual disorders are more likely to occur in women than in men. Additionally, women who are substance-dependent have been found to have a higher rate of emotional problems at a young age as well as to have attempted suicide more often than their male counterparts.

The Importance of Drug Treatment for Women: Trauma

Substance abuse in women can often be linked to traumatic events, including sudden physical illness, accidents or sexual/physical abuse or assault. Women who experience these traumas are more likely than men to use drugs or alcohol to “self medicate” in order to cope with the events. Women are also more likely than men to have gone through emotional or sexual abuse, and female treatment center clients report higher rates of these types of abuse than do men.

The Importance of Drug Treatment for Women: Orchid Recovery Center

Orchid Recovery Center is a drug and alcohol rehab facility located in Florida that specifically targets the needs of women. Because we focus solely on women, we are able to offer a much better success rate than traditional drug treatment centers due to our specialized understanding of the unique problems that woman addicts face. If you or a woman you love is struggling with drug and alcohol addiction, call us at Orchid Recovery Center today for more information.