|
|
This article has been reviewed for accuracy by our peer review team which includes clinicians and medical professionals. Learn more about our peer review process.
Drug and alcohol addiction affects women differently than men, according to the research. Women are physiologically more susceptible. They are also more vulnerable to the adverse side effects, such as liver damage and overdose. In addition to these challenges, women are more prone to relapsing in recovery, often due to cravings that are more intense.
Why, then, given these challenges, are women with substance use disorders less likely than men to enter treatment? It’s a complex and multi-faceted question. For answers, we reached out to Dr. Sachi Ananda, PhD, LMHC, MCAP. Dr. Ananda may be better known as the director of Shatterproof FHE Health, a specialized treatment program for first responders, but she also has expertise on women in recovery, having written her Ph.D. dissertation on the topic. The trauma and relationships therapist shared her insights in a recent interview.
Obstacles to Addiction Treatment if You’re Female
Inpatient addiction treatment is usually a critical and necessary step in the recovery process, but, as Dr. Ananda shared, certain gender-specific obstacles may prevent women from being able to access it. Often, too, these obstacles occur simultaneously, adding further complications.
Social Stigma and Discrimination
One challenge is the reality that for decades women and their substance use struggles went largely overlooked, eclipsed by treatment efforts predominantly focused on men. This only began to change in the late 1970s with one seminal moment, as Dr. Ananda explained:
Historically, treatment facilities and support groups for alcoholism and drug addiction catered to men. It wasn’t until former First Lady Betty Ford announced to the public in 1978 that she was addicted to alcohol and seeking treatment at a hospital that it became acceptable for women to be more open about their struggles with substance use.
The Problem of Childcare
“Besides the social stigma for women seeking treatment,” Dr. Ananda continued, “another major barrier is not having someone to take care of your children, if you’re a mother.”
Just how common is this logistical challenge of finding and organizing childcare? Findings by Penn State researchers in 2023 offer a conservative estimate: At least 10 percent of women cannot pursue treatment because of a lack of childcare.
Not surprisingly, the issue of childcare “is even more difficult for single mothers.” (On the flip side, researchers have noted that marriage is a social support for women who need treatment.)
Co-Ed Treatment Facilities
The fact that most facilities are co-ed can be another treatment obstacle for women, Ananda continued. That is a challenge because addicted women often have been victimized by men in some way, whether during active addiction while intoxicated or in other circumstances that may have led them to start using drugs and alcohol in the first place. Such experiences may make some women “leery about living in a co-ed treatment center,” Dr. Ananda said.
Challenges That Women in Recovery Uniquely Face
There are also challenges after treatment that are unique to women in recovery, Dr. Ananda said:
Women who suffer from drug addiction often have poor self-esteem, difficulty setting boundaries, and poor body image. After treatment, it may be difficult to raise self-esteem if they are returning to a toxic home environment or are unemployed or financially dependent on another person. They may be returning to relationships where they were abused or taken advantage of. They may struggle with being in a healthy sexual relationship, if they had been previously using sex for drugs and had not believed they were worthy to others beyond what their bodies could offer.
More Barriers Specific to the Journey in Women’s Recovery
Residual stereotypes and experiences of trauma are still other barriers specific to women and their journey in recovery.
Social Stigmas and Stereotypes
Social stigmas die hard. Today, the same stereotype—”that women are not alcoholics or drug addicts—can prevent a woman from seeking help,” Dr. Ananda said. “They may be ashamed for not living up to the ‘American Girl’ standard that’s happy and carefree.”
Experiences of Trauma Like Gender Violence
Women’s experiences of trauma can also complicate the healing and recovery process. As a trauma therapist, could Dr. Ananda talk about the role of trauma in women’s recovery?
Do certain traumas tend to occur more among women, for example, and what therapies may work better for women with trauma histories?
“Addicted women have higher rates of previous experiences with sexual abuse or trauma than men,” Dr. Ananda said. (She added that “this may also be due to men underreporting this type of trauma from their own shame.”)
“If women were physically, sexually and or emotionally abused in their early development, they may be prone to recreating that trauma in their adult relationships by continuing to be in relationships where they are being victimized,” Dr. Ananda continued. “There is a higher risk that women will stay in relationships where there is domestic violence and use alcohol and/or other substances to cope.”
What trauma therapies tend to work better for women? Dr. Ananda emphasized the importance of “trauma therapies that focus on creating safe spaces” to help women “feel empowered to resolve their trauma.” She also recommended dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), especially the emotion regulation skills that DBT works to develop (among still other coping tools). “Teaching boundary setting skills would be important before trauma work is done,” Dr. Ananda added.
More Recovery Options Than Ever for Women Today
One big benefit of being a woman today, (as opposed to 50 or 100 hundred years ago), is that there are far more options available for women with substance use disorders, both in terms of support groups and specialized treatment programs.
Finding Support Groups
When asked if she could recommend any support groups, Dr. Ananda was quick to mention AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) and its extensive network of groups, many of which are women’s-only gatherings. To find a women’s group near you, visit AA’s website and check out their directory of meetings.
Specialized Treatment for Women
Many addiction treatment centers now offer specialized programs designed specifically for women’s needs. Empower at FHE Health is one example. Women in Empower can have peace of mind knowing they are part of a peer community consisting exclusively of women. They also can focus on the issues that most affect women in their recovery.
For more information about how Empower at FHE Health can help you or a loved one, reach out anytime.
