How Addiction Impacts Women

MEDICALLY REVIEWED BY
Keri George, BS Chief Nursing Officer

Woman Impacted By An Addiction

Table of Contents

Men and women sometimes suffer from drug dependence for many reasons. However, what happens, when it happens, and how they overcome this addiction can be different. For those who are engaging in drug abuse, recognize that you’re not alone in this process. Every addiction is treatable in the right environment. In all cases, seeking help allows you to overcome what’s happened and to start over. Liberty Bay Recovery makes that possible. While we of course welcome people of all gender identities, we find that many women feel more comfortable in a group of others who identify as women.

What Makes Women’s Addiction Different?

Gender plays a role in the way addiction forms as well as in the ways it impacts a person’s life. In women’s addiction, there are a few key things to note.

  • Women are more likely to use prescription drugs rather than illicit drugs.
  • Women can develop a substance use disorder just as often and with the same severity as men.
  • Men are more likely to develop drug abuse and drug dependence. 
  • Women are more likely to suffer cravings and relapse as a result. 

Why women use drugs can also be different. For drugs like meth and cocaine, both of which are stimulants, women are most likely to seek out the use of the drug to increase energy and reduce feelings of exhaustion and depression. Women are more likely to use meth to lose weight. Often, women are more likely to have depression, which can lead to the onset of addiction. 

Women may be more likely to use some drugs to help them cope with other mental health disorders. This includes drugs that can help with managing anxiety. 

Drug Treatment & Mental Health Services in Prescott

When it comes to treating addiction, women and men may have different needs. Both can develop drug dependence, a condition in which the body and brain are reliant on the drug. Both can engage in drug abuse for many reasons, including peer pressure and seeking a high. Yet, when it comes to treating addiction, women are more likely to need a positive space.

In women’s addiction, it is often important to provide a safe way to encourage women to open up. Often, women do well in group therapy because they heal better with support from others who understand what they are facing. Additionally, women thrive in situations where they can learn about their addiction and apply therapies designed for healing from the inside out, including strategies to change thought patterns. 

Many women are also more likely to need mental health disorder treatment alongside their addiction treatment. This may be due to easier-to-diagnosis and more willingness to overcome these challenges.

Finding the Right Addiction Treatment Is Key

Women’s addiction is treatable. The key is to finding the right space to learn how to overcome that addiction in a meaningful manner. At Liberty Bay Recovery, we offer a complete treatment program designed to meet women’s unique needs. Additionally, we provide a strong recovery community, healthy living spaces, and outstanding programs to help women get back into a healthy life. Learn more about our programs, including:

Seek Help Today – Call Liberty Bay Recovery

Women’s addiction is complex and difficult to manage on your own. Engaging in drug abuse is not a sign of failure, but it is a time when you need help. If you have an addiction and drug dependence, don’t wait for the bottom to fall out. Reach out for help now. Call Liberty Bay Recovery at (855) 607-8758 or connect with our team online today. We’re here to help you find your way out. 

RESOURCES

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