Men and women engage in drug and alcohol use, but men are more likely to abuse these substances. They also tend to use them for different reasons than women, such as fitting in with peer groups. Because of this, men are at a higher risk for addiction and require different types of treatment for an effective recovery. You may wonder if it matters whether you get treatment at a co-ed program or a men’s rehab center. While it is possible to recover at a mixed-gender addiction treatment program, many men find more success from a specialized men’s program.
Do you need a men’s rehab center? Consider the top three benefits of choosing an addiction program for men.
A Nonjudgmental Space Where Men Can Open Up
Some men may not feel comfortable being vulnerable in front of women. Due to gender roles in society, men may feel pressure to keep up a strong front. During treatment, they are not being completely open and honest about the issues underlying their addiction. Putting up this wall will interfere with the success of their treatment.
Men trying to manage addiction need:
- A treatment environment in which they feel they can let down their guard
- Group therapy sessions where they feel comfortable talking about their mental health
- An atmosphere that promotes non-judgment and acceptance
A men’s addiction treatment program provides a space where men do not have to worry about projecting a certain image in front of women. They will feel more comfortable discussing sensitive topics like violence or aggression in relationships when surrounded by other men who have similar experiences.
Targeted Treatment for Men’s Recovery Needs
The causes of substance abuse in men can sometimes be different than those in women. Many men use drugs or alcohol to manage anger and pressure from others to conform to society’s expectations for men. For effective treatment, the contributors of substance use need to be addressed, whether it be stress, mental illness, trauma, or peer pressure.
Men struggling with substance use disorder and co-occurring mental health conditions need:
- Treatment that focuses on the common causes of addiction in men
- Therapies that teach healthy anger management and stress reduction
- Group therapy sessions that address the most relevant issues for men, including the stress of living up to gender roles
A men’s rehab program provides treatment that pinpoints the causes and triggers of substance use in men to address those issues. Men will learn to deal with common issues such as anger, frustration, or inferiority in healthy ways that promote recovery and improve self-esteem and relationships.
More Focus, Fewer Distractions
Addiction treatment programs that include both genders can lead to distractions that can disrupt the course of treatment. In gender-specific rehab programs, men often find it easier to bond with other men, especially in a single-gender group.
Men who are committed to overcoming their addiction need:
- Treatment that keeps them focused on their recovery goals
- A group with which they can share their experiences and gain support for their struggles
- An environment in which they are not distracted by presenting themselves in a certain way for the opposite sex
As much as a therapist will try to keep group therapy sessions open, safe, and honest for all group members, some men and women may not be able to keep themselves focused in a mixed-gender group. Each person is coming into addiction treatment from a different place in life, and those experiences can affect how they interact with members of the opposite gender.
A men’s addiction treatment program allows men to stay focused on themselves and their recovery while also bonding with other men in similar situations.
A Men’s Rehab Center May Be the Missing Piece of Your Recovery
When quitting on your own or attempting rehab in a co-ed program has not brought the results you need for lifelong recovery, give a men’s addiction treatment program a chance. Men’s rehab can be the life-changing experience you need to get clean for good.
