The focus on drug addiction seen from a man’s point of view. This focus can be because women are less likely to become addicted by going directly to illegal drugs. They are most likely to start with prescription drugs and then gravitate toward street drugs. Once on street drugs, however, women are quicker to accelerate to injecting drugs. At our women’s drug rehab center, we also find that addiction takes hold faster and harder in a woman. This is a result of the differences between male and female bodies. A drug rehab center for women must approach rehab from a different perspective.

What Women Contribute Addiction ToA woman stars at a spoon next to drugs and decides to get treatment at a women's drug rehab center

It helps for a women’s drug rehab center to understand the reasons women are likely to start taking drugs in the first place. These are some of the most popular reasons  given:

  • 49 percent cite the stress and anxiety of motherhood
  • 47.4 percent use drugs to deal with romantic relationships
  • 37 percent cite pressure from friends and family as the reason
  • 35 percent have had a traumatic event
  • 35.3 percent say they started due to boredom

While men are more likely to start taking drugs in order to get high, women are more likely to do so to deal with stress in their life. A women’s drug rehab center must keep this difference in mind.

Women and Dual Diagnosis

Women are also more likely than men to be dealing with a dual diagnosis. Many women have up to three mental health issues in addition to their addiction. Men also deal with a dual diagnosis, but there are differences in the type. For example, women are more likely to be dealing with a paranoid personality disorder, while men are more likely to have antisocial personality disorder. Unless a women’s drug rehab center understands the different mental health needs of women, successful recovery will be more difficult.

Many women who seek treatment in a women’s drug rehab center have difficulty opening up around men. A majority of these women have a history of sexual or physical abuse. This history can lead to PTSD and an unwillingness to open up to men. A mixed-gender group or a male counselor may prove detrimental to her recovery journey.

What Contributes to a Woman’s Success at Recovery

Many women who enter a women’s drug rehab center are so used to caring for others that they have failed to learn how to take care of themselves. Something that can help her recover is developing an ability to see what she needs and ask for it. Another contributing factor is having a healthy support system. Women tend to turn to other women for emotional support. In a women’s drug rehab center, this is more likely to happen than in a mixed-gender group. Some things a woman must learn to do differently to increase her success is:

  • Setting boundaries
  • Practicing self-care
  • Learning to act rather than feel
  • Self-respect
  • Personal empowerment
  • Stress management

Promises Behavioral Health

At Promises Behavioral Health, your unique needs as a woman are taken into consideration. We will address both your addiction and your mental health needs because we know that for real, lasting success, both must receive equal attention. We offer treatment for a variety of addictions, including:

If you are ready to take that first step to a more powerful existence, contact us today at 844.875.5609. As you see the future begin to unfold, you will see what else is true of women in recovery — they often recover quicker than men.