We know that addiction doesn’t discriminate and can impact anyone, despite cultural or socioeconomic status, but does it affect everyone the same? The answer is no - women and men vary significantly in their relationship with addiction, primarily due to three fundamental factors - societal pressure, biological differences, and in the response to treatment and recovery.
Societal pressure is a broad term that encompasses several things. First and foremost, this refers to the reasons that men and women begin to use substances. Women tend to utilize drinking and using as a coping mechanism, a band aid for the stress, anxiety, and trauma that are so prevalent within today’s female population. Men have been shown to use substances in social context, to make one “braver”, and encourage risk-taking behavior. Women often adopt a caretaker or mother role post-adolescence, which is additive of a new and additional pressure in life. Women may initiate use at a later age in response to this.
The stigma surrounding addiction also varies between sexes - women, in society’s eyes, have an expectation of responsibility, particularly with child rearing responsibilities. Men historically don’t maintain that same expectation, especially within the home. Because of this, women may be more likely to experience shame and guilt and hide their struggles from those around them. Because women often are the primary or only caregiver in the home, this can be a barrier to seeking treatment. For men, it is more socially acceptable to drink or use and generally speaking, it may be easier for them to be absent from the home environment. Women with addictions often experience a greater stigma and less social support than men
There are actual biological differentiations between men and women that relate to addiction. Women, for example, generally have more body fat and a lower volume of water, and tend to develop alcohol dependence more quickly and with less alcohol than men do. Women generally metabolize drugs and alcohol more slowly because of this. Men tend to process substances more quickly, which can contribute to a higher rate of consumption.
There are hormonal differences that not only drive mood and thought, but estrogen has been proven to increase the effects of stimulants. Women’s hormonal cycles may not only make them more susceptible to drug addiction but also more impacted by triggers that lead to relapse, a new Vanderbilt University study revealed. Women tend to increase the amount of consumption over time more rapidly than men, showing an accelerated onset of the SUD (telescoping effect). The gap between men and women in prevalence of substance abuse is narrowing - It was believed addiction to be more prevalent in men but historical studies tended to only include males.
Women and men differ significantly in their motivation for seeking treatment and their relapse patterns, as well as the types of treatment programs that they tend to respond the most effectively to. Women are more likely to seek treatment earlier than men and women are most driven to seek help due to internal pressures and concerns, like relationships, family/caregiving, and health. Men, on the other hand, tend to seek treatment more due to outside forces, such as being mandated by job or family, mandated by court. It has been shown that women generally relapse sooner after completing treatment than men do, often in response to trauma or co-occurring disorders, like depression or anxiety. Women also frequently are expected to immediately jump back into the role of caregiver, which is often conducive to heightened stress levels and emotion. More women than men struggle with co-occurring disorders at the time of seeking addiction treatment, but it is also anticipated that men may under-report their mental health struggles.
It is imperative that the differences between genders be considered when effectively choosing a treatment program. Gender-specific treatment programs understand these issues and differences, addressing the unique needs of both males and females. An all-female environment leads to transparent and honest sharing and connection, forming a like-minded community to offer support along the recovery journey.