Why don’t women seek help for addiction?
Women with addiction are seen as a “fallen woman” and parents as ‘unfit mothers’. As such, they are deemed incapable fulfilling usual responsibilities as a loving mother, wife, daughter, or grandmother. She may be ashamed of her behavior and thus refrain from seeking help for her addiction.
What does addiction treatment for women look like?
Addiction treatment for women needs to be gender responsive, collaborative, utilize the power of community, and recognize the importance of relationships. No doubt about it – both men and women suffer greatly from the damaging effects of addiction to alcohol and drugs.
Why do so many women go to Substance Use Treatment?
Most women entering substance use treatment are victims of child sexual abuse, or other forms of interpersonal violence, such as spousal assault (often also referred to as ‘domestic violence’), sexual harassment or rape.
Who is less likely to completely complete addiction treatment?
Saloner, B. and Le Cook, B. (2013). Blacks and Hispanics Are Less Likely Than Whites to Complete Addiction Treatment, Largely Due to Socioeconomic Factors. Health Affairs, 32 (1).
What are 3 reasons why someone does not seek treatment for their addiction?
They weren't ready to stop using. ... They couldn't afford it. ... They didn't know where to get treatment. ... They were afraid of what their neighbors might think. ... They were afraid it might affect their job.
What are 3 strategies often used to treat addiction?
There are many options that have been successful in treating drug addiction, including:behavioral counseling.medication.medical devices and applications used to treat withdrawal symptoms or deliver skills training.evaluation and treatment for co-occurring mental health issues such as depression and anxiety.More items...•
What are 5 signs that indicate a person has an addiction?
Signs someone else is addicted:Changes in personality and behavior like a lack of motivation, irritability, and agitation.Bloodshot eyes and frequent bloody noses.Shakes, tremors, or slurred speech.Change in their daily routines.Lack of concern for personal hygiene.Unusual need for money; financial problems.More items...
What are the 4 stages of the addiction cycle?
While there are many factors that contribute to drug and alcohol addiction, including genetic and environmental influences, socioeconomic status, and preexisting mental health conditions, most professionals within the field of addiction agree that there are four main stages of addiction: experimentation, regular use, ...
What is the most effective treatment for addiction?
According to American Addiction Centers, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a valuable treatment tool because it can be used for many different types of addiction including, but not limited to, food addiction, alcohol addiction, and prescription drug addiction.
How do you break an addiction to someone?
Tips on How to Break an Addiction to a PersonFigure Out Your Addictive Relationship. ... Detach Yourself from an Unhealthy Bond. ... Surround Yourself with Positive People. ... Welcome Your Independence. ... Learn to Set Boundaries in Relationships and Friendships. ... Pay Attention to Yourself. ... People You Should Avoid.
What's the first stage of addiction?
Stage 1: Initiation The first stage of addiction is called initiation, during which time the individual tries a substance for the first time.
What are the biggest warning signs for addicts?
7 Warning Signs of AddictionLoss of Control. You may have a problem with addiction if your drug or alcohol use is out of control. ... Relationship Problems. Addiction often causes problems with other people at home, work or school. ... Changes in Behavior. ... Physical Symptoms. ... Physical Appearance. ... Doctor Shopping. ... Red Flags.
What are the warning signs of dependence on drugs in terms of behavior?
Signs and symptoms of recent use can include:Feeling of exhilaration and excess confidence.Increased alertness.Increased energy and restlessness.Behavior changes or aggression.Rapid or rambling speech.Dilated pupils.Confusion, delusions and hallucinations.Irritability, anxiety or paranoia.More items...
What are the psychological reasons for addiction?
Mental health factors. Conditions such as depression, anxiety, attention deficit disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) increase the risk of addiction. Difficulties managing strong emotions are also linked to substance use.
What does the Bible say about addiction?
“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. Godis faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”
What is the path of addiction?
The addiction pathway is the brain system that governs motivated behavior. When the pathway was first discovered, almost a half-century ago, people called it the pleasure center.
What is gender responsive addiction treatment?
Gender responsive addiction treatment acknowledges and addresses the needs of women entering a rehab program.
What is the role of women in substance use?
Many researchers examining women’s use have acknowledged the significant role women’s relationships play in the initial substance use, as well as its maintenance, escalation, or renewed use following treatment completion. For example, unlike men, women’s problematic use often starts at the encouragement of male friends or a boyfriend.
What are the barriers to substance abuse?
Perhaps the Most Significant Barrier: Interpersonal Violence. Most women entering substance use treatment are victims of child sexual abuse, or other forms of interpersonal violence , such as spousal assault (often also referred to as ‘domestic violence’), sexual harassment or rape.
How do you know if you have a progressive addiction?
For example, mood swings, one of the most common telltale signs of a progressive addiction may prompt others to suspect increased substance use in men rather readily, while women may be suspected of being ‘hormonal’ instead.
Why are women more prone to harsh judgment and stark disapproval?
While men’s open confession to having a problem with addiction may be met with support and encouragement to seek treatment, women are more prone to receive harsh judgment and stark disapproval, especially by those closest to them. This is a significant barrier to treatment, as women tend to define their lives and personal worth by the quality of their relationships. The support and continued love by those they are close to are therefore crucial for success in treatment, and in continued recovery.
Why is it important to have a relationship with a woman?
Women are much more likely to identify relationships as source of identity, support and strengths. As such, it is important that loved ones are involved in a woman’s treatment, to the extent it is deemed safe and practical. Additionally, as many women with traumatic backgrounds typically lack healthy relationships, an exploration as to interpersonal violence, healthy versus unhealthy relationships, personal boundaries and co-dependency may prove helpful in paving the way to building a healthy and lasting support network.
How does treatment affect women?
Most generally, treatment programs that acknowledge and reflect an understanding of the multiple and complex ways in which female substance use differs from those of their male counterparts, are likely to show increased positive treatment outcomes for women. For example, studies showed higher rates of long-term sobriety for female program participants if services providers offered assistance with finances, housing, transportation and childcare.
Why are women less likely to seek treatment for addiction?
Many women do not even seek treatment because they feel alone and they feel like they will be too harshly judged. For this reason, women are less likely to seek addiction treatment in substance abuse treatment facilities. They turn instead to mental health and primary care settings, which can lead to poorer outcomes.
Do women have more alcohol than men?
Women typically consume less alcohol then men when they drink, drink less frequently, and are less likely to develop alcohol-related problems. Women are also less likely than men to use drugs and develop drug related problems.
What are the barriers to addiction treatment?
According to a 2004 global case study by the United Nations, there were numerous perceived barriers for women considering treatment: childcare and custody concerns, fear of their partner leaving, lack of pregnancy services, shame and stigma, and lack of gender-responsive treatment options.
Does gender responsive treatment work?
According to a report by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), simply placing women in a same-sex treatment group does not equate to better outcomes or retention rates. However, gender-responsive programming does provide better outcomes. In a practical sense, gender-responsive programming would be conducted in a gender-specific setting, thus indicating the benefits of women-only treatment.
Why don't people seek help?
They weren’t ready to stop using. The biggest reason people gave for not seeking help even though they knew they needed it was that they weren’t ready to stop using. This might sound strange to people who haven’t struggled with addiction but the fact is that most people are conflicted about their substance use.
How many addiction treatment facilities are there in the US?
They didn’t know where to get treatment. There are something like 14,000 addiction treatment facilities in the US and they vary greatly in quality and methods, so it’s not surprising that people get confused about where to go for treatment. When in doubt, getting a recommendation from your doctor is a good place to start.
Do people with substance use disorder never get treatment?
There are a number of reasons for this. According to the 2016 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, the vast majority simply don’ t think they need treatment. [ https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/NSDUH-DR-FFR2-2016/NSDUH-DR-FFR2-2016.htm] Of the 17.7 million American adults who needed help but didn’t get it, 16.9 million said they just didn’t need it. Out of the rest, more than half–455,000 people–believed they needed help but made no effort to get it. Why is that?
Is treatment expensive?
Treatment can certainly be expensive but in recent years, the cost has become less of a barrier. Most insurers will pay for some degree of treatment and most treatment programs accept several forms of insurance. There are also more public programs and Medicare and Medicaid can be used for more programs. Treatment programs typically have people whose only job is to figure out how to help you afford treatment so don’t assume the cost is prohibitive.
Who is the founder of Addiction Land?
16. Cate Stevens at Addiction Land founded the site to help addicts by offering support resources to facilitate recovery. Her approach is grounded in the 12 Steps, but the site welcomes all other recovery paths as well.
Who is Sandy Swenson?
8. Sandy Swenson ’s blog is “the place where love and addiction meet.” Sandy is an author who writes about her experience of healing her life as a mother of a son struggling with addiction.
Who is Carolyn Hughes?
2. Carolyn Hughes at The Hurt Healer is a British writer with a focus on addiction and mental health issues, a speciality which arose from her personal story of overcoming alcoholism and depression. She writes about how the pain of past family trauma influences addiction, as well as how faith can promote recovery.
Do you have to be isolated in recovery?
But here’s the truth: you don’t have to feel isolated in your recovery journey. If you have access to the Internet, then you have a world of support at your fingertips.
Is it easy to feel alone in the fight?
When you’re struggling with addiction, it’s all too easy to feel as though you are alone in the fight. It’s tempting to think that everyone else has no problems with drugs and alcohol, that you’re the only one who can’t seem to draw the line. We really love the work of the following top 25 addiction bloggers and encourage you to check them out.
Do women abuse drugs?
Women tend, on average, to become substance abusers at a later age than their male counterparts. For example, 19.5 million women ages 18 and older have used drugs in the past year. However, with some drugs, such as cocaine, women start earlier. Studies show that women abuse cocaine and amphetamines at a younger age, perhaps to lose weight.
Do women abuse prescription drugs?
Women tend to abuse prescription drugs more than men do, and that may be a factor of women’s health needs and opioid prescription patterns. Fibromyalgia affects women disproportionately more than men, and women often receive prescription painkillers or sleep aids to help them deal with the symptoms of the condition.
Does MDMA make you depressed?
These include street drugs, club drugs, and hallucinogens. MDMA (Molly, Ecstasy) produces stronger effects in women than men, and women tend to feel depressed days after using MDMA.
Do more women have PTSD than men?
More women than men, however, have PTSD as a result of sexual trauma. A women’s treatment facility must be prepared to address victims of rape, sexual abuse, and domestic abuse, and the co-occurring PTSD.
Why is it so hard to get help for addiction?
In addition to the issues outlined above , there are a number of other reasons why people have a hard time getting help for an addiction. Stigma. The stigma around addiction can affect someone’s decision to seek treatment. One study that looked at people’s reasons for not seeking treatment found that: 17.
Why don't people go to treatment?
Many people do not enter treatment because they don’t think they can afford it.
What are the different types of addiction treatment?
The most common treatment options available for substance abuse are inpatient/residential, outpatient, group therapy, and private or individual therapy . These forms of treatment can differ quite a bit in terms of cost, time commitment, services, and scheduling.
What are the barriers to addiction?
Barriers to finding addiction treatment may vary by personal situation, but the most common barriers include: 1 Financial/Cost 2 Geographic Location 3 Stigma 4 Co-Occurring Disorder Treatment Availability
Where does individual therapy take place?
Individual therapy can also take place in an inpatient or outpatient program or independently in a therapist’s office.
How does stigma affect addiction?
The stigma around addiction can affect someone’s decision to seek treatment. One study that looked at people’s reasons for not seeking treatment found that: 17. 3% of respondents said they would lose friends if they went to treatment. 4% said people would think badly of them if they went to treatment.
How many substance abuse facilities are there in Wyoming?
Wyoming had 58 facilities. Montana had 64 facilities. Rural Areas. People in rural areas face particular hurdles to treatment: 92% of the substance abuse treatment facilities in the United States are in urban areas.
Denial
Addiction often goes untreated because the addict is in denial about their condition. Even though it may be clear to everyone around them that drugs are at the core of their problems, the addict may be oblivious. They may know that they’re turning to drugs to cope with challenges, but they may not see how drugs are also causing further problems.
Fear
Recovering from addiction is a great thing but the process can be physically, emotionally, and psychologically challenging. It’s not simply a matter of going to rehab and then going back to “normal”. Staying drug-free requires a daily commitment and it means making major life changes.
Shame and Stigma
Many people who are addicted to drugs find it difficult to seek help because they feel a deep sense of shame. They may be so ashamed that they feel they’re not worthy of help or that they have no reason to improve their lives.
Cost
Some individuals are willing to admit they have a problem and seek help, but they are unable to afford it. In some cases, it’s because their addiction has resulted in huge financial challenges. In times past, many insurance companies didn’t cover addiction treatment and this put professional help out of the reach of many people.
Time
Sometimes, it’s not shame, fear, or a lack of money that prevents a person from seeking treatment. Time can also be a barrier. Some addicts are high-functioning and they continue to live up to their responsibilities at home, at work, and in the community. Stopping to get treatment would mean taking time off from some of these activities.
Lack of Education
Some people have misconceptions about what addiction treatment entails. They may avoid it because they believe the only option is to enter an inpatient facility. While that type of treatment is necessary for some people, it’s not the only solution.
Let Asheville Recovery Center Help You!
If you’re struggling with drug addiction, you need to know that there’s help available. And, it may not be as expensive, inconvenient, or time-consuming as you believe. While there are legitimate barriers to getting substance abuse treatment, personalized help is available at Asheville Recovery Center in North Carolina.
Fear
Not Knowing Where to Begin
- Neglecting to seek and begin recovery isn’t always because of mindset. In some cases, the person dealing with substance dependency simply won’t know where to turn, or how to begin such a life-changing process. In the United States, there are around 14,000 treatment facilities availableto those with substance dependency. These facilities use a wide range of treatment methods — pl…
Shame
- In some cases, the person dealing with substance dependency may be too ashamed of their situation to seek recovery. There is an enormous stigma surrounding drug and alcohol dependency, as well as seeking addiction treatment itself. Shame is an especially difficult emotion to process, as it can often overwhelm the person affected. As such, shame can someti…
Geographic Limitations Or Living in A Rural Area
- Although so many treatment facilities exist in the United States, they are typically concentrated in certain areas, particularly cities and metropolitan areas. Additionally, treatment facilities and rehab programs tend to be more numerous in states with higher populations. As of 2016, for example: 1. New York had 922 treatment facilities 2. California had 1,430 facilities 3. Illinois had …
Co-Occurring Disorders
- For those dealing with drug or alcohol dependency, it’s often the case that other mental health disorders are present as well. In 2016, for example, over 8 million adults had a dual diagnosis of a substance abuse problem and a psychiatric condition. Individuals with a dual diagnosis are less likely to enter treatment, compared to those without an additional mental health condition. Of thi…
Not Being Ready to Stop Using
- Sadly, denial is a very common reason for a person dealing with substance dependency to neglect treatment. Sometimes, the person just feels as if they aren’t ready to recover. To those who’ve never struggled with a drug or alcohol dependency, this might seem especially bewildering. Why would someone want to continue their dependency? Well, in reality, most individuals have confli…