Original article
Learning about alcohol addiction treatment for women and drug and alcohol detox guidance can help you distinguish immediate medical needs from longer-term recovery care.
Anyone who drinks heavy amounts of alcohol runs a risk for serious problems with abuse and addiction. However, women who drink have different levels of risk than men who drink. These gender-related differences impact women in a variety of ways. That impact may include a need for treatment in a women’s alcohol treatment center.
At Women’s Recovery, we have a thorough understanding of alcohol’s effects on women. That understanding is our motivation for offering dedicated women’s alcohol treatment services. Our approach supports your recovery needs and helps you get the full benefits of treatment.
What Is Gender-Specific treatment?
Many alcohol treatment programs are coed. This means that they must provide treatment options for both men and women. This kind of program may work in some cases. However, men and women are not affected by addiction in the same ways. For various substances, the list of differences may include:
- Motivations for getting involved in substance use
- The level of use that makes addiction possible
- The speed at which addiction develops
- Responses to treatment in a treatment program
This means that coed treatment programs must split their focus between women and men. That’s not an ideal situation. A gender-specific treatment eliminates this split focus. As a result, it can offer targeted treatment that more closely fits your needs.
Reasons Why Women’s Alcohol treatment Matters
There are several specific reasons why a women’s alcohol treatment center is essential. The first of these reasons is the relative risk for addiction. Women can get addicted to alcohol when they:
- Drink less often than men
- Consume less alcohol than men
- Abuse alcohol for shorter amounts of time than men
Women also suffer more from other effects of alcohol. These effects include addiction-related brain damage. They also include addiction-related damage to your body.
In addition, women may turn to alcohol for different reasons than men. One potential factor here is exposure to major traumatic events. Women have much higher risks for certain kinds of trauma, including domestic abuse and sexual assault. In turn, such severe trauma can play a big role in the development of alcohol abuse.
What Happens in a Women’s Alcohol Addiction Treatment Program?
A large part of effective alcohol treatment is the same for both women and men. That includes a need for supervised detox that helps you safely stop drinking. After you stop drinking, you will likely need medication to help you avoid a relapse.
Women and men in alcohol addiction treatment programs also benefit from many of the same psychotherapy options. One common option is cognitive-behavioral therapy or CBT. This therapy helps clarify the reasons you started abusing alcohol. It also helps you change your thoughts and behavior in ways that support your goal of staying sober.
Turn to Women’s Recovery for Gender-Specific Women’s Alcohol treatment
If you’re a woman in Colorado affected by alcohol problems, turn to Women’s Recovery. We specialize in gender-specific treatment for these kinds of problems. The core of our services is our intensive outpatient program. This program provides you with a wide range of therapy options, including care for trauma and nutritional issues.
Treatment at Women’s Recovery is fully customized. Regardless of the details of your situation, we’ll help you create a plan that works for you. Call us today at 833.754.0554 or fill out our online form to learn more about our women’s alcohol treatment.