WOMEN’S ADDICTION TREATMENT​

Women have a different experience with addiction compared to men based on biological differences and societal differences with norms and expectations. There is no doubt these differences play a role in the development and progression of addiction among women. Until recent years, research into women’s experiences and challenges regarding addiction and recovery was lacking.

Research by Harvard Health has recently shown that, while men do abuse more drugs, the significant difference between the men’s rates and women’s rates is becoming less and less.

Research has shown that women who abuse drugs and alcohol find health concerns specific to women when they stop using. Examples of this would be hormonal imbalances, disturbance with menstrual cycles, fertility concerns, and menopause. These challenges can be unexpected and can make the recovery process harder for the individual.

Women are known to struggle with anxiety and depression more than men. A 2010 study estimated that 29.7 % of women struggling with an addiction have a co-occurring mood disorder, and 26.2% have a co-occurring anxiety disorder. Alcohol and drugs can be used to cope with the symptoms of these mental health concerns, which can make recovery a difficult time if women do not learn to cope with their symptoms in a healthier way.

Research has also shown that women who engage in addiction treatment have a high rate of physical and sexual abuse. On average, this ranges from 55% to 99% of women currently in a treatment program. Some women’s experiences with trauma and their symptoms are consistent with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Once you know that you have a mental health concern, you can work towards managing it better.

Pregnancy & Addiction

If a woman is using drugs and alcohol while pregnant, she is putting her baby at risk. We know now that most drugs have the potential to harm an unborn child. This includes tobacco products, alcohol, prescription drugs, and opioids. Some drugs come with added risks to the mother, such as miscarriage, high blood pressure, and seizures.

Drinking alcohol while pregnant can lead to long-term health complications for the baby and the development of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS). Complications can include distinct facial features, learning disabilities, difficulty sleeping like a newborn, poor memory, and poor judgment skills.

Research is finding that more women are using marijuana while pregnant than in previous years. The suspicion is that women are smoking partially to cope with pregnancy symptoms such as morning sickness and vomiting. The concern with this is that marijuana use during pregnancy can lead to low birth weight for the baby, which is why doctors do not encourage marijuana use when pregnant.

If drugs such as alcohol and opioids are used throughout pregnancy, there is a significant risk that the baby can be born with withdrawal symptoms. The severity of the baby’s withdrawal is dependent on the mother’s use while pregnant. Women who are pregnant or nursing should be honest with their doctors regarding drug and alcohol use to help manage a potential health crisis.

Explore Our Modern Drug Rehab in Louisville

Addiction Treatment Personalized for Women​

Women have a higher rate of entering addiction treatment than men. Being in a gender-specific treatment program can have many benefits for women.

Women face different societal expectations and stigmas than men do. These pressures can lead to internalized pressures of what a woman thinks she “should be like” or “should act like .”Being in an intimate environment such as therapy can help women work through any guilt or shame that they may carry related to not meeting these expectations.

Being in a treatment center with other women can make group members feel more comfortable talking about their struggles. There is so much depth to a woman beside her addiction. Having a holistic approach, and looking at the woman as an individual has shown to have lasting effects on her recovery compared to focusing on the addiction at hand.

Women face additional barriers when it comes to accessing treatment. One of the most common barriers a woman will face is childcare. Having safe childcare is often a concern for women who want to attend treatment and have children. For women who are lacking support or struggle financially, finding care can feel impossible. Other barriers include a lack of finances to afford treatment and the ability to take time off from work.

The Benefits of a Women’s Addiction Treatment Center​

Addiction treatment centers use behavioral therapy methods that have been proven effective by research. Group therapy and individual therapy are commonly used to help individuals identify challenges they face, and explore how they can manage them in recovery. This includes any history of abuse or neglect.

Depending on the drug being abused, it may be necessary for women to be medically supervised during detox. Alcohol, opiates, and benzodiazepines can be dangerous to detox from. Detox programs are the best place for a woman to go even if she is not in danger of health risks when detoxing.

Treatment programs work to provide individuals with an assortment of tools and strategies they can use during their recovery journey. Drugs and alcohol can be used to cope with symptoms of mental health concerns and unpleasant emotions. When the substances are no longer being used, the individual needs to use new strategies to cope with these emotions.

Treatment programs offer a level of support and encouragement that many individuals need for their recovery. Addiction is a chronic disease that worsens if untreated, which makes it a beast of its own. Addiction is also an isolating disease, so having healthy support during recovery can help make the journey a bit easier. Different levels of care within a treatment program will provide different levels of care.

Get Help from Our Drug Rehab Center for Women in Kentucky

At our women’s drug rehab, we are able to cater addiction treatment to your specific needs. This begins with determining the level of care that would be the best fit for you and customizing your program based on your needs. While we do not offer a gender-specific program for women, we do have material that we can add to your treatment program to bring in the benefits previously discussed.

We have a Residential Inpatient program that offers comfortable living arrangements so you can focus on your recovery journey during the day by engaging in evidence-based addiction treatment with our trained Mental Health Professionals.

We offer a Partial Hospitalization Program. With this option, you would be able to stay at home and come to the recovery center for 4 to 6 hours per day 3 to 5 times per week.

We offer an Intensive Outpatient Program. Our IOP program is determined case by case, and typically includes 15-25 hours of group therapy and one hour of individual therapy.

Our Outpatient treatment usually involves group and individual therapy. We tailor your treatment schedule to your needs and your availability to get to treatment.

After completing our outpatient program, we offer an After Care program that allows you to still engage in group therapy for support on a much smaller scale. This program works great for individuals who wish to remain connected after completing Outpatient treatment.

Lastly, we offer a Family Program. Addiction impacts more than the individual struggling with alcohol or drugs. Family members are impacted as well and deserve time and support to work through their own experiences so that the family, as a whole, can begin to navigate what life looks like after treatment.

If you are worried about yourself, or someone you love, we invite you to call us at (502) 912-1038. We would be happy to answer any questions you may have about our programs and see where we can help you