Gender Differences in Drug Abuse Risks & Treatment

Both men and women abuse drugs and both male and female addicts need treatment. Differences exist in the drug habits of men and women, though, and gender-related issues affect the treatment process.

Prevalence

• Tammy L. Anderson, Ph.D., of the University of Delaware reports that men use illegal drugs almost twice as often as women, 8.5 percent to 4.5 percent. An article in the January 2007 issue of Psychiatric Times reported that men and women abuse prescription drugs at similar rates, but men abuse most other substances more often than women.

Risk Factors

• The Psychiatric Times article reported that women addicts show higher rates of depression, anxiety, and other psychiatric disorders than men. Women addicts often have a history of trauma or abuse as well which may predispose them to addiction.

Course of Treatment

• Gender-specific treatment facilities provide care specifically designed to meet the needs of women. Programs like Women for Sobriety offer gender-specific alternatives to 12 step groups like Alcoholic Anonymous.

Treatment Outcomes

• According to the Psychiatric Times, women enter treatment less readily than men. However, women that do enter treatment receive similar benefits to those received by men and have similar rates of recovery.

Pregnancy

• Drug abuse affects the family members of addicts, including male and female addicts. However, pregnancy poses special risks since the ingestion of illegal drugs often causes harm to developing babies. Which causes many treatment programs for women to address the needs of pregnant women.