Male Drug Abuse
On the whole, societal pressures and stigma contribute to making it harder for men to seek help through formal treatment. Men’s drug rehab programs understand those challenges and are designed with numerous factors specific to men’s drug abuse in mind.
Research has outlined the following facts about male drug abuse:
- Men binge drink at higher rates than women and typically experience more severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms
- Peer pressure is a key factor in why men engage in substance abuse in the first place
- Heroin abuse and resulting addiction is higher among men
- Overdose fatalities are more common among men compared to women
Even with those differences, men and women display similar outcomes following addiction treatment. That simply underlines the truth that healing remains possible for everyone, no matter their history of substance abuse.
Nonetheless, implications remain for what type of treatment best serves each gender. As an example, certain medications used in treating cocaine and alcohol addiction are shown to produce differing results in men and women.
Benefits of Men’s Drug Rehab
Georgia Addiction Treatment Center is a great example of a modern addiction treatment facility that specializes in men’s drug rehab. Single-gender rehab programs come with a variety of benefits that are explored below.
Freedom From Societal Expectations
Even in treatment, men often feel pressure to act in certain ways. That can manifest in feeling a need to display toughness or downplaying and not showing emotion. Men’s drug rehab clears space to allow men to let down their guard and embrace the opportunity to heal. Societal pressures and expectations can be left behind when men enter single-gender rehab.
Peer Support and Relationships
Most addiction treatment programs include group therapy and peer support groups within treatment plans. A perk of men’s drug rehab programs is that single-gender settings allow for the development of deep bonds and camaraderie. Clients may be able to open up quicker and find common ground more easily—moreover, the relationships built in rehab last long after treatment ends.
Fewer Distractions
The purpose of rehab is to achieve sobriety. Mixed-gender settings can be distracting and complicate the recovery process. Single-gender settings keep the spotlight on getting sober by eliminating everything that isn’t relevant to men while they engage in their individualized treatment plans.
Treatment Focused on Men’s Needs
Different experiences with addiction call for different treatment methods. Men’s drug rehab prioritizes the best therapies and medications for supporting men in recovery.
Men’s Drug Rehab Programs
Men’s drug rehab centers implement a range of therapies and support to ensure the best possible outcomes for men. Behavioral therapies form the basis of many programs, with examples including cognitive-behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy.
Other services provided through men’s rehab programs include family therapy, life skill classes, and dual diagnosis treatment. Co-occurring disorders are especially prevalent in cases of alcohol addiction, which often coincides with depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Fully addressing any underlying mental health concerns is necessary to set men up for long-term success after leaving rehab.
Learn more about men’s drug rehab programs.
Data from the National Institute on Drug Abuse shows that men abuse drugs at higher rates than women. In particular, they are more likely to misuse alcohol and marijuana when compared to women. Men and women also differ in their methods for using drugs, how their bodies react to drug use, and what treatments work best. As a result, more and more rehab facilities like Georgia Addiction Treatment Center offers men’s drug rehab. For many people struggling with addiction, a single-gender program provides the best opportunity to realize healing and beat addiction.