As the demand for efficient addiction support groups arises, Clearbrook Treatment Centers are constantly evaluating and adjusting our substance abuse services to ensure that our patients receive individualized and comprehensive care. Among our various addiction therapy programs is our gender-specific group therapy. Men and women experience many things in life differently, including substance use disorders and mental health issues. By offering gender-specific groups, we ensure that clients are offered a safe space where they can speak freely with others who understand their struggles.
Gender Differences in Addiction and Recovery
For decades, addiction research has focused greatly on drug and alcohol abuse in men. For a while, men were the only research participants, while the idea of substance abuse in women wasn’t even considered.
It wasn’t until the 1990s that United States organizations established requirements to include women as study participants in addiction research. Since then, addiction treatment services have been adapted to suit both men and women. Since the inclusion of women in addiction research, gender differences in addiction have also been discovered. For instance, men are more likely to abuse illicit drugs and alcohol than women. One 2013 study found that substance use disorders are twice as common among men than they are in women, 10.8% versus 5.8%, respectively.
On the other hand, women are more likely to experience cravings, relapse, emergency room visits, and fatal overdoses. These gender differences in drug abuse are believed to stem from a combination of biological and sociological factors, such as childcare responsibilities, substance abuse stigma, relationship dynamics, and more.
When it comes to biological factors – such as hormone production – testosterone and estrogen production, as well as average body mass and composition, can play a factor in how substance abuse impacts men and women. What’s more, common risk factors like a family history of drug use or alcoholism and underlying mental illness can increase the likelihood of developing a substance use disorder. Considering the many differences in addiction among men and women, our men’s and women’s recovery groups offer clients the individualized support they require to overcome their unique struggles.
What Is Gender-Responsive Treatment?
Gender-specific addiction treatment acknowledges that men and women often have different patterns of substance use, experiences of trauma, and social factors that can influence their mental health and addiction issues.
The key elements of gender-responsive treatment include:
- Understanding gender differences in addiction: Specialists are trained to understand and inform individuals of the biological, psychological, and social differences between men and women that can impact experiences with addiction and mental health.
- Tailored treatment plans: Gender-specific group therapy involves developing individualized treatment plans that consider the specific needs and challenges of each person based on their gender. For instance, women may have unique needs related to pregnancy, childcare, and domestic violence, while men may have different emotional struggles.
- Trauma-informed care: Because many individuals with addictions have suffered some form of trauma, especially women, gender-responsive treatment includes trauma-informed care that acknowledges the role of trauma in substance abuse and mental health disorders.
- Gender-specific or gender-separate services: Some treatment programs offer gender-specific or gender-separate services where men and women participate in therapy and support groups separately to create a safer and more comfortable environment for discussion.
- Cultural sensitivity: Gender-responsive substance abuse treatment takes into account cultural and ethnic factors in addition to gender, recognizing the significant impact these factors can have on an individual’s experiences with addiction and recovery.
By offering gender-responsive treatment, addiction treatment providers like our Massachusetts and Pennsylvania rehab aim to improve treatment outcomes and provide more effective care for individuals seeking help for substance abuse and mental health issues.
Addiction Treatment for Men and Women
Gender differences in addiction are centered on susceptibility, impact, recovery, and relapse risk. In terms of susceptibility, while men are more likely to develop an addiction and abuse drugs or alcohol because of peer pressure, women are more likely to transition from dependence to addiction at a more rapid rate. Women are also more likely to use drugs and alcohol as a form of self-medication, especially substances like heroin, meth, and cocaine.
Regarding addiction recovery, men are more likely to stabilize their drug use at lower doses than women but are also more likely to experience intense alcohol withdrawal. However, women are more likely to experience intense cravings and relapse more often.
In addition to the gender differences in addiction recovery, differences in social and biological factors can make it difficult for men to open up in front of women and vice versa. This level of discomfort can lead to a lack of transparency and communication during gender-specific group therapy sessions that may be crucial to their overall development in recovery.
Some benefits of our gender group topics and sessions include:
- Gender-unique therapy focuses on physiological, emotional, and relational matters.
- Elevated support as gender-specific treatment supports a sense of trust and bonding among fellow same-sex patients.
- Lessened pressure and disturbances between male and female clients.
- Supportive gender group topics encourage open discussion about social and cultural tensions that can result in substance abuse.
Some additional benefits of gender group therapy include:
- A reminder that no one is alone in recovery
- A social avenue for interacting with others without drugs or alcohol
- Providing an opportunity for people to develop lasting friendships with like-minded people
- Provides a safe place for people to discuss their challenges and victories in recovery
- Teamwork and peer support
- The space and security to communicate without fear of judgment
- Various viewpoints and perspectives for coping with challenges in recovery and relapse prevention
Because men’s and women’s issues in substance abuse recovery vary, it’s crucial to offer clients treatment that caters to their needs and makes them feel as comfortable as possible. Gender therapy also recognizes that a blanket treatment approach won’t always work for everyone and may inhibit the recovery process for certain men and women. What’s more, not only can gender-specific groups make clients feel more comfortable opening up in discussions, but these groups can also encourage healthy friendships, which are crucial in recovery. To accomplish this, our drug and alcohol rehabs offer gender-specific groups for addiction where clients have the floor to speak openly with counselors alongside others of their gender who understand their struggles.
Gender-Specific Addiction Treatment
Here at Clearbrook Treatment Centers, we devote our time to making sure each of our patients is comfortable, heard, and supported. Our goal is to help people find their way to recovery from addiction and develop healthy and effective skills to stay there.
In addition to our addiction and gender-specific treatment services, our facility also offers modalities like medically monitored detox, family therapy, and aftercare support to address the mental and physical aspects of recovery. No matter what kind of recovery support you need, don’t hesitate to reach out.
Our gender therapy groups at our facilities also offer addiction treatment in Pennsylvania and Massachusetts for all types of substance use disorders, as well as medically assisted detox, family therapy, aftercare services, and more.
For more information about our addiction services, contact Clearbrook Treatment Centers. Give us a call today at (800) 582-6241 we have beds open!
Sources:
- SAMHSA – Results from the 2013 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Summary of National Findings
- NIH – Comparing levels of cocaine cue reactivity in male and female outpatients
- NIH – Alcohol cue reactivity and mood induction in male and female alcoholics
- NIH – Group Process in the single-gender Women’s Recovery Group compared with mixed-gender Group Drug Counseling