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Treatment Methods for Women

Considerable research has demonstrated that drug abuse affects women differently than it does men. Consistent with these findings is the philosophy that treatment plans for women should differ from those that are designed for men.

Issues of concern for women who use, abuse, or become dependent upon (or addicted to) alcohol and other drugs include health challenges, rates of progression, social impact, and rehab/recovery process.

Women & Drugs

Drug use and abuse is often viewed as primarily a men’s problem – but as data collected during the 2007 version of the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) indicate, women are at considerable risk as well:

  • An estimated 5.9 percent of women aged 18 or older met criteria for abuse of or dependence on alcohol or an illicit drug in the past year.
  • An estimated 15.7 percent of women aged 18 to 25 abused or were dependent on alcohol or an illicit drug in the past year compared with 8.9 percent of women aged 26 to 34, 5.4 percent of women aged 35 to 49, and 1.5 percent of those aged 50 or older.
  • Rates of abuse of or dependence on alcohol or illicit drugs among women aged 18 or older were highest among American Indians or Alaska Natives (19.9 percent), followed by whites (6.3 percent), blacks (4.5 percent), Hispanics (4.4 percent), and Asians (3.4 percent).
  • Women aged 18 to 49 who were married had a lower rate of substance (alcohol or illicit drug) abuse or dependence than women of any other marital status.
  • Women aged 18 to 49 who reported not living with any children under age 18 were more likely to have abused or been dependent on a substance.

A previous version of the NSDUH documented the following breakdown of drug use among women:

  • About 30.5 million women have used marijuana at least once in their lifetimes.
  • About 603,000 women have used cocaine in the preceding month
  • About 547,000 women have used hallucinogens (including LSD and PCP) in the preceding month.
  • More than 850,000 women had used needles to inject drugs at some point in their lives, and about 56,000 women had done so in the previous year.

Researchers have discovered that as many as seven of every 10 women who abuse drugs report having been physically or sexually abused, with many drug-using women having been abused by their parents. Drug-abusing women also appear to be significantly more likely than men to have their behavior influenced by their spouses or partners.

Consequences for Women

Just as body size and metabolism cause women to be affected by alcohol differently than men are, so, too, do drugs impact female users more quickly and more dramatically than is the case with male users. Studies indicate that addiction may progress more quickly in women than in men – which leads to the conclusion that even if they enter treatment after using similar amounts of drugs for the same period of time, a woman may have a more serious addiction that a man does.

Health concerns for drug-using women include poor nutrition and low weight, depression, diminished self-esteem, an increased likelihood of experiencing physical abuse, and a greater chance of contracting HIV/AIDS and a wide range of other medical conditions.

Among pregnant women, drug abuse may lead to problems including preterm labor and developmental damage to (or the death of) the baby.

Women, Drugs, and HIV/AIDS

women at higher risk for contracting HIV/AIDS. Women who inject drugs may contract the virus through the sharing of needles and other paraphernalia (including syringes, cotton swabs, and rinse water), while those who use other drugs may put themselves at risk by engaging in dangerous activities such as unprotected sex or sex with multiple partners.

In the Americas, experts estimate that about 20 percent of women who contract HIV do so through injection drug use – and of the 80 percent who are exposed to the virus through heterosexual sex, many are having sex with men who inject drugs.

Effective Treatment for Women

To increase the odds of success, recovery and rehabilitation services for women who abuse or are addicted to drugs need to address a variety of issues that may have influenced or been affected by their drug use, including the following:

  • The provision of food, clothing, and shelter
  • Transportation to treatment and other services
  • Job training and career counseling
  • Education counseling
  • Parenting training, family planning services, and child care
  • Family, couples, and relationship therapy
  • Medical care, including mental health care and psychological assessments

Women who do not have access to services such as the ones described above may be less likely to participate in or complete drug treatment. For those who do have a successful treatment experience, continued aftercare and relapse prevention services are important to help with a successful reintegration into the community and the continued pursuit of a healthy, drug-free life.

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