While it’s evident that substance use disorders (SUDs) look different from woman to woman, we can identify some helpful common ground in SUDs among women as a whole. These basic facts can be useful in understanding the factors that contribute to substance use, viewing addiction as a treatable condition, and seeing recovery an achievable goal. So, today we’ll look at seven essential facts about substance use disorders in women and how to find the right program to address these disorders.
Women of any age can develop any type of substance use disorder. The high occurrence of SUDs and mental health disorders together in women make longer-term co-occurring disorder treatment a recommended option to explore. For women who have been treated previously for only a substance use disorder and did not receive simultaneous treatment for a co-occurring mental health disorder, the risk of relapse is higher, Undiagnosed trauma, including physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, abandonment by a parent, or living with a parent with a SUD or mental illness can also contribute to the development of SUDs in a woman later in life. For women facing these concerns, extended care in safe living accommodations may be paramount.
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Women can develop any type of substance use disorder.
Although movies, television, and other forms of pop culture may choose to focus on particular substances, such as alcohol or benzos, women seek treatment for all kinds of SUDs. This list includes cocaine, opiates, meth, marijuana, and much more. A woman’s age and environment may affect what she has access to and that can change over time.
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Women may have more than one SUD at the same time.
Women seeking support for a substance disorder may be using more than one substance at any given time. For example, the use of alcohol by day and marijuana at night could be one woman’s routine. Again, access to a substance can change and she may choose whatever becomes available to get high and use two or more substances.
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Women are likely to have co-occurring mental health disorders.
It’s not uncommon for a woman with a SUD to have a co-occurring mental health disorder, such as depression, anxiety, trauma, or PTSD. She may not know she has a mental health condition that is exacerbating her substance use. Her mental health disorder may not be evident to her personally or have been previously diagnosed. The presence of the mental health disorder may precede the SUD or the frequent use of substances may have contributed to the development of the mental health disorder.
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Women may not receive recovery support for a SUD and co-occurring mental health disorder.
Receiving treatment through an outpatient program or an inpatient program in the past does not mean the treatment was suitable necessarily. Even a past residential program that led to a short-term recovery may have been inadequate if it did not diagnose and treat a co-occurring mental health disorder. Addiction specialists recommend women with a SUD and co-occurring mental health disorder receive longer-term support and ongoing care after residential treatment.
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Women may have undiagnosed trauma from childhood, adolescence, or adulthood contributing to their SUDs.
Trauma at any point in their lives can be a contributing factor to a woman developing a substance use disorder. This trauma could come from abandonment in early childhood, mental illness in a parent, physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, a serious injury or illness, and many other types of traumatic events. Untreated trauma can lead to PTSD, relationship issues, fear, or anxiety and make life unbearable.
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Women can benefit from gender-specific recovery support.
Gender-specific care also involves creating a safe space for recovery in a women-led environment. Peer support is also an essential part of an extended care program, and a gender-specific environment can provide women an opportunity to receive support from their peers and learn how to create healthy relationships with other women. This is often an element that may have been lacking in their lives in active addiction, and it can be the difference between stumbling and success.
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Women with SUDs may need help building life skills to help them sustain recovery.
Care for substance use and mental health issues are only part of creating a new life following a successful treatment program. Women may need additional help learning the skills necessary to manage a budget, secure employment, get legal counseling, and more. These life skills help create the stability needed for a woman to be able to focus on sustaining her recovery through meetings, outpatient programs, and other resources.
A reputable recovery residence that provides evidence-based care for women is a winning combination for treating substance use disorders. Call us today to learn more about how Windhaven House can support your loved one on their recovery journey.
Contact us for more information about how Windhaven House can help you achieve and maintain lasting sobriety. Call 866-856-0801 or send us a message now.
