About 19.5 million women of legal age admit to substance abuse in the past year alone. This just shows the growing number of potential substance use disorders that will require treatment very soon. Traditionally, only men enrolled in addiction treatment programs. The focus of the design of these programs was therefore predominantly on male psychology. But in recent times and with the growing number of women drug users, there is a need to familiarize ourselves with what is gender-specific treatment.
Treating addiction varies depending on the patient’s gender. This is because the challenges that each gender faces are unique. Women tend to become addicts faster than males. Most women need just low levels of these drugs for them to develop a dependency. Additionally, the medical and social consequences of addictions manifest themselves at a faster rate in women.
What Is Gender-Specific Treatment?
Gender-specific treatment is a form of treatment that considers the patient’s gender first. Its goal is to treat the mental illness depending on the psychological reactions of these genders. Men and women react differently to drug and alcohol addiction treatment. These differences play a crucial role in the treatment process. A treatment plan should account for these differences if it is to be effective.
Ways in which Women React to Drugs Differently
A woman will react differently to a substance in comparison to a man. This is because of the hormones that are unique to women. The different ways a woman will react to a drug are:
Dependence Period
Women can become dependent on drugs quite fast. They only need small doses for a shorter period before they become dependent. Their chances of relapsing after treatment is greater than in men. There should be more emphasis on relapse prevention programs in women’s rehab programs.
Retention Time
Women retain alcohol in their bodies for a longer period. This is because they have more body fats than their water content. Water helps to get rid of the alcohol from the body. The fatty cells retain alcohol for a longer period. These factors increase the woman’s intoxication period by a considerable margin from that of men.
Progression Time
Women progress from the first use of a drug to habitual usage quickly. This increases their chances of becoming addicted over a short period.
Breakdown Time
A woman’s body will take more time before it breaks down chemical components from the drugs completely. This is due to the fact that women have lower levels of enzymes that help with this process.
Gender-Specific Treatment Programs at Wellness Counseling Vida Entera
Wellness Counseling Vida Entera uses several approaches to gender-specific treatment.
Some of these approaches include:
- Residential treatment program: This treatment plan will help you to get treatment with minimal distractions from the outside world. The plan offers on-site facilities where the patient can stay and fully immerse themselves and understand, what is gender-specific treatment.
- Intensive outpatient program: In this plan, the specialist will attend to you only for a short period. They will then give you the freedom to return home afterward. The specialist will help you create a schedule to help you with the treatment plan.
- Partial hospitalization program: This will help you through therapies and meetings to recover. All the people in these meetings and therapies will be of the same gender as the patient.
- Medication-assisted program: The approach here is to help you recover through a combination of therapies and medication. The medication will help you cope with the withdrawal effects of the drug. The medical staff will be of the same gender as the patient.
Join Wellness Counseling Vida Entera
Don’t let your fears hold you back from understanding questions like, what is gender-specific treatment. Seeking treatment is the only way that will restore your health. If you would like to enroll for a gender-specific treatment plan, contact us by calling 951.400.0082. We will help you to recover.
