Substance use disorder in women progresses at a faster rate than men, and are more susceptible to craving and relapse. Physiological differences accelerate the progression of addiction, as women metabolize alcohol and drugs differently. Fewer stomach enzymes and more fatty tissue slow down the processing of alcohol and other drugs, causing the body to be exposed to higher concentrations of the substance longer. Women have a unique set of challenges when it comes to substance use disorders and finding recovery.

Women use smaller quantities of heroin for shorter periods and are less likely to inject it. One element unique to gender is the introduction tointravenous injection by a sexual partner. About 51 percent of women are first injected by a male sexual partner, while 90 percent of men get their first injections from a friend. This supports the idea that women who inject heroin and other intravenous drugs are more heavily influenced by social pressure from a partner. Opioid abuse and addiction have become an epidemic in the past couple of decades, but some studies show the growth of the problem has disproportionately affected women.

The sooner you find treatment for yourself or a loved one, the better it will be for overall health. If you or a loved one are struggling with substance abuse contact us today. Our team can answer any questions you may have and give you a better understanding of our program.

Women were significantly more likely than men to have a co-occurring depressive or anxiety disorder and showed significantly higher numbers for co-occurring eating disorders as well. Men are more likely to experience traumatic events at least once in their lifetime, but women are twice as likely to develop PTSD as a result of such an event. Acknowledging this difference and its effect on addiction is paramount to creating effective gender-based treatment programs.

More women have died each year from drug overdoses than from motor vehicle accidents since 2007. In general, women become addicted to drugs less often than men, but when they do become addicted the disease tends to run its course much more quickly. The reason for this difference may be rooted in psychological differences between the sexes. Women often use drugs for mood regulation and stress reduction, while men are more attracted to the risk-taking aspect of drug abuse. A recent study by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University revealed that girls and young women commonly initiate substance abuse during these crucial years. Often, their reasons for trying drugs are tied to the stress and pressures experienced in this transitional period.

Men are more likely to die from a prescription overdose, but women have experienced a more significant increase in overdosesrelated to opioids. Prenatal opioid use is also growing, and the number of babies born with neonatal abstinence syndrome increased more than five-foldfrom 2004 to 2014. Type of abused drugs based on having or not having an extramarital sexual relation. The extramarital sexual relation based on marital status in all the substance dependent subjects is shown in Figure 1.

Gender Differences in Substance Abuse Treatment

The percentage of female patients diagnosed with barbiturate dependence was also slightly higher than the percentage of male patients, although the difference was not significant . Like opioids, alcohol dependence develops faster in women than in men, as does alcohol-induced organ injury such as liver disease and brain damage. First, because women generally weigh less than men, their bodies have less water and more fatty tissue. Because fat retains alcohol while water dilutes it, women’s organs experience more injury. Second, women have lower levels of two enzymes that metabolize alcohol, resulting in faster alcohol absorption into the bloodstream. Being the victim or witness to a trauma is not your fault, but it can have life-changing consequences.

For instance, they may be more likely to have a heart attack or develop lung cancer. Women also find it harder to quit smoking, and when they do quit, are more likely to restart. The reasons aren’t clear, although female smokers are more responsive to environmental triggers (e.g. wanting to smoke when drinking alcohol), while male smokers are more responsive to nicotine.

Symptoms

All of these issues can lead to drug use, which provides a type of mental escape from an unbearable living situation. CHILDCARE Women often have lack of access to child care services, discouraging attendance or even preventing treatment entry. By providing childcare supports, programs can help women enter and stay in treatment, allowing women to help themselves, and therefore help their children. MOTHERHOOD 70% of women entering addiction treatment have children. Women entering treatment are more likely to have primary responsibility for their children, where as the majority of fathersentering addiction treatment have another primary caretaker (e.g. mother) available. Eating disorders are also commonamong women with substance use disorder.

Chronically missing social events, work, or family obligations are common signs of addiction. Female symptoms of substance abuse may present similarly to those in men, with the exception of menstrual and hormonal changes. The drug classes stimulants produce euphoria and tend to increase energy levels. Depressants tend to produce a calming effect, the opposite of stimulants.

B. Sinking factors

GENDER INEQUALITIES Women are more likely to experience economic barriers to treatment. Pay gaps, lower wages, less income, or the higher likelihood of women living in poverty prior to substance use disorder onset, can limit the financial resources available to seek services and treatment. Trauma-informed care is especially important for the treatment of women2. This is an integrative approach that offers support to help with coping and awareness of traumatic events. More than half of women looking for substance use treatment have experienced at least one traumatic event. Significant changes in social behavior are another sign of substance abuse or misuse.

When their circulating hormone levels were high, female rats made stronger associations with the light and were more likely to keep pushing the lever as much as it took to get any amount of cocaine. Developing emotional intelligencein a safe space is essential to men’s recovery, and it is often easier to do this in a single-gender program. Opening up in group therapy feels more natural when you know that the people around you have experienced the same pressures and perhaps some of the same circumstances you have. Having these shared experiences can help build trust and remove some of the fear of judgment that stops people from fully engaging.

Almost 10% of patients who overdosed died within a year of that incident, meaning if you overdosed once but got resuscitated, got helped, 10% of those women die in a year. One reason why this high rate of increase for women is because the Centers for Disease Control reported that women may be more likely than men to engage in doctor shopping. Doctor shopping is when women actively seek out multiple types of prescription drugs from multiple providers. So they go to one doctor for one prescription and another doctor for another. Women tend to “telescope” more than men with drugs – meaning they start with lower levels of alcohol and drug use but end up binging to an even more deadly degree.

Signs & Symptoms of Substance Abuse in Women

Women tend to be less independent financially than men, so they’re less able to afford treatment and to take off work. This way of thinking can be harmful in the long run because recovery is readily available right around the corner with no shame involved with the process. ZB contributed to the inception, design, interview with participant, analysis, interpretation, drafting the research manuscript and final approval of the revised manuscript for publication.

Wilsnack SC. Barriers to treatment for alcoholic women.Addiction and Recovery. STIGMA The shame, blame, and guilt attached to addiction can be stronger for women, especially mothers. Women report higher levels of stigma than men, and stigma is a known barrier to treatment seeking.

Extramarital sexual relation was 3 times much higher in single females . The higher rate of extramarital relation in single females was the same as the result of this study. A comprehensive study of women and substance abuse treatment, also published by the National Institutes of Health, found that women are less inclined to seek treatment for addiction. This is often due to practical concerns about child care and taking care of their homes. Women also report that they feel there is more stigma attached to a women who abuses drugs or alcohol. Another reason many women avoid treatment is that they are too depressed to seek help.

Domestic Violence Often Perpetuates Drug Use In Women

When women do seek treatment, they often have a harder time quitting and have a greater rate of relapse following treatment. This qualitative study was conducted in two rehab camps of Isfahan in July to October 2017. Isfahan is the third most populous city after Tehran and Mashhad, with an estimated urban population of 2,243,249, 49% of which are women. Isfahan has two drug rehabilitation camps specifically for women drug users, which are located in the outskirts of the town. Women, who come to these centers for drug rehabilitation, can stay there for 21 days and have to pay for it.

The use or misuse of some drugs while pregnant, especially opioids, can cause a newborn infant to experience withdrawal symptoms, a condition known as Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome . The good news about all that is that the addiction treatment women receive is evolving to account for those differences, and women are the better for it. If you or a loved one are suffering from alcohol or drug addiction, we’re here to help. Contact us today and speak with one of our trusted recovery advisors. On the other side of the spectrum, scholastic pressure can become too much for women striving to be at the head of their class.

This for some of the participants was a reason for drug cessation as they became tired of this situation. In Newman’s study, women drug users were exposed to the consequences such as sexual, emotional, and physical abuse . In this study the extramarital relation was higher in drug dependent women.

As a result, alcohol and drugs impact them differently and in order for substance abuse treatment to be effectiveit must take into account these differences. After selecting the participants according to the study’s inclusion https://sober-home.org/ criteria and obtaining the consent of the interviewees, the time and place of the interview was determined. Before the interview, the participants’ permission and consent was obtained for recording the interview.

While one in five women in the general population will experience this traumatizing event, the number isas high as 72.9 percentamong women seeking substance abuse treatment. Stimulants, sometimes referred to as “uppers” are drugs that amp up alertness and energy. Some common stimulants include methamphetamine, cocaine and prescription medications for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder . SAMHSA data suggests that rates of stimulant abuse are similar for men and women, with about1.9 million peoplereporting that they have used methamphetamine within the last year. While men are more likely than women to develop addiction, women are more likely to face greater challenges. Women experience addiction-related medical or social consequences faster than men, find it harder to quit, and are more vulnerable to relapse.

• The good news about all that is that the addiction treatment women receive is evolving to account for those differences, and women are the better for it.
• Located in Newport Beach, California, Sierra by the Sea provides premier residential treatment, offering rehab program and services for drug addiction, alcohol abuse, and mental health concerns.
• Substance use during pregnancy can be risky to the woman’s health and that of her children in both the short and long term.

Men are more likely to be referred to treatment through the criminal justice system, while about twice as many women as men are referred to treatment through community agencieslike welfare or healthcare providers. Marijuana, or cannabis, is the most common eco sober house complaints illicit drug used in the United States. Around43.5 million peoplereport having used marijuana in the last month. They have been shown to have more opportunities to initiate marijuana use,and they start using it about a year earlier than women on average.