Addiction to drugs is a serious, chronic, and relapsing health problem for both women and men of all ages and backgrounds. Among women, however, drug abuse may present different challenges to health, may progress differently, and may require different drug treatment approaches.
It is possible for drug-dependent women, of any age, to overcome the illness of drug addiction. Those that have been most successful have had the help and support of significant others, family members, friends, treatment providers, and the community. Women of all races and socioeconomic status suffer from the serious illness of drug addiction. And women of all races, income groups, levels of education, and types of communities need treatment for drug addiction. As they do for any other problem affecting their physical or mental health.
Powerlessness
Many women who use drugs have faced serious challenges to their well-being during their lives. For example, research indicates that up to 70 percent of drug abusing women report histories of physical and sexual abuse. Data also indicate that women are far more likely than men to report a parental history of alcohol and drug abuse. Often, women who use drugs have low self-esteem and little self-confidence and may feel powerless. In addition, minority women may face additional cultural and language barriers that can affect or hinder their treatment and recovery.
Many drug-using women do not seek treatment because they are afraid. They fear not being able to take care of or keep their children. They fear reprisal from their spouses or boyfriends. Fear punishment from authorities in the community. Many women report that their drug-using male sex partners initiated them into drug abuse. In addition, research indicates that drug-dependent women have great difficulty abstaining from drugs, when the lifestyle of their male partner is one that supports drug use.
Addiction
Research suggests that women may become more quickly addicted than men to certain drugs. Such as crack cocaine, even after casual or experimental use. Therefore, by the time a woman enters treatment, she may be severely addicted. Consequently, she may require treatment that both identifies her specific needs and responds to them.
These needs will likely include addressing other serious health problems-sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and mental health problems, for example. More specifically, health risks associated with drug abuse in women are; poor nutrition, low self-esteem, depression, physical abuse, etc. however, even more troubling is the huge number of women affected by AIDs in the western world. As of January 1997, the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention had documented almost 85,500 cases of AIDS among adolescent and adult women in the United States. This problem obviously needs to be tackled immediately.
Treatment Methods
Specialized drug addiction treatment methods are necessary for each sex as men and women although experiencing addiction, experience it in different ways. The majority of long term rehabilitation centres and programs are fully aware of this. Ultimately approach the treatment of women in a specific way in order to help them with their recovery process as best they can.