Gender-Specific Treatment Programs with Royal Life Centers at Chapter 5
As with most things, substance use disorders can affect men and women differently. Recognizing the need for gender-specific treatment, addiction treatment centers in Arizona offer men-only and women-only rehab programs that treat the medical and emotional needs of either gender.
What Is Gender-Specific Treatment?
Gender-specific treatment is treatment that provides separate care for either gender during drug and alcohol rehab. Female programs tailor treatment to the recovery process of women and includes group therapy with other women, discussions that pertain to the female gender, and female-only residential housing for the duration of treatment. Similarly, treatment for male guests is customized to benefit the recovery process for men as they participate in group therapy with other men, review male-related topics, and reside in male-only on-site housing throughout their time in treatment.
Male-only or female-only treatment programs are an alternative option to co-ed addiction treatment programs (that include both men and women). However, unlike co-ed programs, gender-specific treatment focuses on topics that relate specifically to the experiences found in either gender. Our men-only and woman-only programs offer an empathetic and supportive environment to discuss the unique factors that contribute to substance use for either gender.
What Role Does Gender Play In Addiction?
The stark contrast of male and female roles in society shapes the way men and women abuse substances. In fact, gender impacts an individual’s addiction at every level, starting with first-use and continuing into the long-term effects. As a result, substance abuse presents differently between the two genders— women tend to initiate drug and alcohol use later on in life than men but develop a dependence at a much faster rate. Additionally, the factors that influence the first use of a substance differ in men and women. For women, reports of initiation commonly occurred within a sexual or interpersonal relationship. Alternatively, men report self-experimentation or peer-influence as the influencing factor behind their initial use.
The differences in gender extend into the health consequences of substance use. For instance, gender has shown to affect the effects of long-term binge drinking, including morbidity, mortality, and suicidality. Similarly, studies have identified gender-related trends in the development of cancer, cardiovascular disorders, liver disorders, and brain and neurocognitive implications as a result of alcohol use disorder and binge drinking.
Why Choose A Gender-Specific Treatment Program?
In short, a gender-specific treatment program removes the distractions that may occur in co-ed programs. For example, it prevents the formation of unhealthy relationships that occur when guests of the opposite gender cohabitate in inpatient. This period of separation also helps guests feel safe and comfortable, especially when opening up about sensitive topics. In addition, men’s and women’s programs can assist guest’s in building genuine connections with other guest’s in a relaxed environment. Likewise, men-only and women-only groups can identify and relate to common trends found within gender-specific experiences.
Benefits of Men-Only or Female-Only Drug/Alcohol Treatment Programs:
- Minimizes gender-related distractions
- Open discussions on gender-specific struggles
- Protects against codependent relationships
- Eliminates the possibility of male emotional dependency / female emotional dependency with peers during treatment
While in therapy at a gender-specific treatment center, the groups operate without the distraction of the opposite sex. As a result, our programs minimize the threat of guests developing co-dependent relationships during inpatient treatment. The separate groups also remove the ability to form male or female emotional dependency in female-male relationships.
During male-only and female-only groups, therapists facilitate conversations that organically guide groups through hard-to-broach topics. In gender-specific therapy, guests discuss relationships and the consequences of drinking and drug abuse. These topics include impaired driving, sexual assault, and intimate partner violence.
Our Gender-Specific Treatment Programs
Change your life with one call.
You can do it, we can help.
