Five Benefits of Gender-Specific Addiction Treatment
While gender-neutral addiction treatment programs can also be very effective and helpful, the advantages of gender-specific rehab can address individual needs to recover successfully from their addiction.
1. Peer Understanding and Support
Men can face certain challenges that only other men will be able to understand. The same is true for women.
Opening up to peers and listening to them when they talk is easier for individuals of the same gender. Think about men talking in locker rooms or women talking in bathrooms – situations like these are common because no time would be wasted explaining things the other gender can’t understand. There would be no shame in talking about gender-specific topics, such as dating advice or intimate hygiene.
Shared experiences encourage all individuals in rehab to participate in talk therapy sessions.
2. More Effective Addiction Treatment
Participation is essential when it comes to rehab. If an individual doesn’t feel safe, heard, and comfortable in a shared space with members of the opposite sex, they will be less likely to engage. They won’t benefit from group therapy sessions and may eventually feel like they’re being left out.
A men’s or women’s rehab program is typically more effective than the alternative, at least for individuals who aren’t comfortable being around others of the opposite gender. Being around other people of the same sex may give individuals the courage to move forward and participate in addiction treatment.
3. A Focus on Gender-Specific Elements of Care
Research shows that women and more likely to abuse painkillers and other prescription drugs, while men are more likely to engage in cannabis use or heavy binge drinking. Men’s rehab centers should be fully equipped and staffed for individuals that need marijuana adduction treatment programs or alcohol detox and recovery.
Research also shows that more men need longer and often inpatient treatment. This could indicate that men typically have more severe addictions that will need to be treated differently. Men’s rehab centers may focus more on severe substance use disorders, and some may only offer inpatient treatment programs.
4. Fewer Distractions and Triggers
In a gender-neutral environment, programs could end up wasting time and effort dealing with gender difficulties when they should be healing individuals.
For some men, being around women in rehab can be distracting. In some cases, there could be sexual or emotional tension – imagined or not. Individuals who should focus on recovery may be too shy to open up around each other or become attracted to each other.
On top of the atmosphere of tension in gender-neutral environments, some men may be averse to being around women. To them, the presence of women is not simply a distraction but also a trigger.
5. Special Gender-Based Considerations
There could be many reasons for behavioral developments that result in the above situation, with men averting being around women. These reasons could be addressed and recognized specifically in the talk therapy part of men’s alcohol rehab programs.
Women, especially, may need special physical considerations when they get admitted into a rehab center. For example, they may engage in risky sexual behavior due to a co-occurring disorder or as an effect of their addiction. Individuals like this would benefit from going to a women’s rehab center, as there’s less risk of getting pregnant. Another example would be already pregnant individuals who are seeking addiction recovery. Many women’s rehab centers will have the equipment and staff to support expectant mothers.
What Individuals Should Look for in a Men’s Alcohol Rehab Program
You should always choose addiction treatment facilities with dedicated gender-specific programs, such as Georgia Addiction Treatment Center. However, the priority should be finding a men’s rehab program that’s a perfect fit for your needs.
If you have issues that make it difficult for you to get addiction treatment – such as not being able to take time off school or work – prioritize programs with offerings that support your needs. If you have an extreme aversion to the presence of women, you may also need to look for rehab centers only staffed by men.
The best men’s alcohol rehab programs use multiple forms of care and therapy. An approach to talk therapy that gives men time to trust the therapists and peers before sharing would be ideal. Above all other factors, you need to find the best rehab program to lead you to a lifetime of sobriety.
What makes a men’s alcohol addiction treatment program special?