Does gender-specific addiction treatment matter? There is ample evidence to suggest that gender differences exist in substance use disorders, according to the Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Services Administration (SAMHSA); as such, more attention is required to address the biopsychosocial needs of both genders, especially for women. However, access to adequate substance abuse treatment is much more limited for women than for men, and even less so for trauma-informed care in clinical addiction treatment settings, according to one news source.
Women are at higher risks for substance abuse and PTSD
The National Center for PTSD reports that women are twice as likely to meet the criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and four times more likely to develop chronic PTSD than men. Common risk factors include childhood sexual abuse (CSA), sexual violence, physical abuse, and emotional abuse. In a study examining 1,411 adult female twins, results confirmed that childhood sexual abuse was directly linked to increased risk for psychiatric and substance abuse disorders in women. Another case study compared two groups of women who abused substances and those who did not. Of those who reported substance abuse, 74% also reported a history of sexual abuse, 52% reported physical abuse and 72% reported emotional abuse, whereas the other group reported significantly lower percentages in corresponding factors. As for childbirth, women tend to start abusing prescription opioids after their first childbirth for postpartum depression and/or cesarean sections.
What is gender-specific care?
In a substance abuse treatment setting, gender-specific care divides men and women into separate groups in order to address the needs of each. For women-specific groups, the following is taken into consideration (based on SAMHSA’s TIP 51):
• Socioeconomic issues and differences
• Ethnic and cultural diversities
• Relevance of caregiver roles
• Societal stigma and attitudes
• Current and past violence and victimization
• Health-related consequences
• Role of significant relationships
What is trauma-informed care?
Trauma-informed care brings attention to the role of trauma in substance abuse without retraumatizing the client. Re-traumatization happens when clients are treated in terms of their diagnoses, behaviors and treatment approaches rather than as a human being with a trauma history. Trauma specialists are keenly aware of how a vulnerable client may react to staff, clinicians and other peers, and they collaborate with addiction therapists to design customized trauma-related services that would elicit a client’s receptiveness to the program.
Addressing the Need for Gender-Specific, Trauma-Focused Care
Recommended by Dr. Phil, New Method Wellness is one of the very few dual diagnosis treatment centers that simultaneously address the need for trauma-informed care and substance abuse treatment in gender-specific settings. With six gorgeous homes that house men and women separately, New Method Wellness provides a wide array of holistic treatment programs, ranging from art therapy to acupressure/massage therapy. You can focus on your healing in our luxurious treatment centers.
To schedule a tour or for more information, contact us today!
