Addiction Treatment for Women

Columbia University recently reported that women were more likely to develop dependency than men and also the reasons that women give for their use are different from the reasons that men use. The study further reported that women are more likely to feel guilt and shame associated with their substance abuse than men.

Substance Abuse in Women

In the findings, women reported that their reasons for substance abuse were social and psychological and cited depression, loneliness, a lack of a support system and low self-esteem, as contributing factors. The study found that women preferred Oxycontin and Vicodin as well as Marijuana, Heroin, Ecstasy and Cocaine as their drugs of choice.

Alcohol abuse among women was also prevalent in the study. There are vast differences in the effects of substance abuse among women. For example, women are more likely to show signs of alcohol and drug addiction earlier than men. Symptoms are more severe in women than they are in men and women experience more mental health complications from their substance abuse than men experience.

Treatment Options for Women

The ability for women to seek treatment for dependency has been daunting due to family responsibilities, as well as cultural and social norms. Women have been more likely to put off seeking assistance especially with regard to children. The most common reason why women with children who do not get the help they need for their drug and alcohol abuse issues is because they are afraid they will lose their children.

The majority of addiction treatments available for women hold a shared belief that in those women who come from families in which drug and alcohol abuse played a role, there is a significant increase for there to be addiction. There is also a shared belief that the way in which women started their substance abuse was introduced to them by a spouse or partner.

Counseling strategies in addiction treatment for women focuses on therapy that investigates the individual’s past, particularly on events that have the potential to be the cause of the substance abuse. Counseling sessions include individual and couple's therapy, especially if drugs and alcohol are prominent in the relationship.

Help is Available

Detoxification may be the first step in taking back control of your life. Medical detox will remove the toxic chemicals from your system that is the result of your drug and alcohol abuse and may take from a few days to a couple weeks, depending on the type of substance abuse. Once you have completed detox, you should enroll in a rehab treatment program that can help you stay drug and alcohol free. 12 step programs and non 12 step programs offer inpatient or outpatient options.

Since the reason many women do not get the help they need is because they cannot be away from their children, perhaps an outpatient program would be better suited for you. Consider all your options. If you can arrange to enter an inpatient program that can help you stay sober, the long-term benefits may lead to a healthier you, for yourself and your children.