Why Women May Be More Prone to Drug Abuse

Women are among the fastest-growing segments of drug users in the United States — and they may even be more prone to addiction than men, according to an article in U.S. News & World Report. 

Here’s a summary of some of the reasons listed in the article: 

• Women are more vulnerable to mental illness. And mental disorders, including depression, eating disorders, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder, have been linked to an increased risk of substance use disorders. 
• Women have more chronic pain. The result: greater susceptibility to opiate and prescription drug abuse. In fact, women are given higher doses and for longer periods of time than men -- and they become dependent more quickly, according to the American Society of Addiction Medicine.
• Women have higher incidents of trauma, discrimination and stress. These are all intertwined with addiction. As many as 80 percent of women seeking treatment for drug abuse report lifetime histories of sexual and/or physical assault, according to studies. Women are also more likely to experience gender discrimination – and this is linked to higher stress, which is also a risk factor of substance abuse. 
•  Women tend to develop addictions faster. And they often enter into treatment programs with more severe dependence than men.

Gender Differences in Substance Abuse

Luckily, more and more research is focusing on the differences between women and men when it comes to addiction. These findings can only help women get the treatment they need and deserve. 

Here are a few more telling facts about women and drug abuse, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse:

• Women use smaller amounts of certain drugs for less time before they become addicted.
• Women may have more drug cravings and be more likely to relapse after treatment. 
• Sex hormones can make women more sensitive to the effects of some drugs.
• Women may experience more physical effects on their heart and blood vessels.
• Women may be more likely to have panic attacks, anxiety or depression.

Women and Addiction Recovery

At Rising Roads Recovery, we know that every woman who comes to us is incredibly unique and needs to be treated that way. One size does not fit all – and one future does not work for everyone. To learn more, call 866-746-1558. 

4 Myths About Women and Addiction

Men and women are far from equal when it comes to substance use disorders – and, thankfully, more and more research is exploring the gender differences. Still, many myths abound when in comes to women and addiction. Here we take a look at a few common ones and the facts that dispel them. 

Myth: More men than women get addicted to drugs and alcohol.
This used to be true, but the gender gap is closing. Experts say that women are among the fastest-growing segments of drug users in the U.S. Some stats, according to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD): 

• Up to 4.5 million women over age 12 in the U.S. have a substance use disorder.
• 3.5 million misuse prescription drugs.
• 3.1 million regularly use illicit drugs.
• More than 200,000 American women die as a result of alcoholism and drug dependence.
• More than 4 million women are in need of addiction treatment.

Myth: Women and men begin using for the same reason.
Women are twice as likely to experience anxiety and depression as men – and this often leads to self-medication as a way to manage these mental health conditions. Trauma also plays a role: Seventy four percent of women struggling with addiction reported sexual abuse in their history, according to one of the first studies to examine female addiction. And a large percentage of women seeking treatment for addiction report lifetime histories of emotional abuse and physical assault.

Myth: Pain is an equal driver of addiction for men and women.
In fact, women have been study-proven to suffer more frequently and more intensely from pain – and, in general, they visit more doctors and are more likely to be introduced to opioids through a painkiller prescription. The proportion of women seeking treatment for opioid addiction has grown so much that today the number of men and women in rehab for this addiction is about equal.

Myth: Women and men should be treated for addiction in the same way. 

Women tend to develop addictions faster and more seriously than men. In addition, women have a greater chance of relapse. What’s more, many women are dealing with such treatment barriers as social stigma, co-occurring disorders, trauma and financial constraints – which all make gender-specific treatment even more important. Addiction treatment progresses differently for women, too, and women have a greater chance of relapse.

Women and Addiction Recovery

At Rising Roads Recovery, we know that every woman who comes to us is incredibly unique and needs to be treated that way. One size does not fit all – and one future does not work for everyone. To learn more, call 866-746-1558. 

New Research: Women Have an Increased Risk for Tech Addiction

According to new research from Binghamton University, women have an increased risk of developing a smartphone addiction.

In a paper recently published in Information Systems Journal, scientists interviewed 182 college students to better understand how often they use their smartphone throughout the day and also tracked their moods throughout the duration of the study.

Isaac Vaghefi, assistant professor of management information systems at Binghamton University, and his team then classified the research participants into five different usage categories ranging from “Thoughtful” (lower usage) to “Addict” (higher usage).

Across the board, more frequent smartphone usage was correlated with negative outcomes such as having more problems at home and at work due to an excessive need to use it throughout the day. Those individuals also self-reported experiencing negative emotions such as social isolation and depression throughout the day.

In this survey, the correlation between high usage and negative outcomes was consistent for both men and women. But, researchers found that women were more likely to fall into the high-risk categories of “Fanatic” and “Addict”, which suggests that they have an increased risk of developing a smartphone addiction.

"Our smartphones have turned into a tool that provides short, quick, immediate satisfaction, which is very triggering," said Vaghefi. "Our neurons get fired and dopamine is being released, and over time this makes us acquire a desire for quick feedback and immediate satisfaction. This process also has contributed to developing shorter attention spans and being more and more prone to boredom."

"While self-identified 'addict' users were in the minority, I predict technology addiction will increase as technology continues to advance and application, game and gadget developers find new ways to ensure users’ long-term engagement with technology," said Vaghefi.

If you are working on your recovery, it’s important to take an inventory of your entire lifestyle, including how you use technology, to avoid developing unhealthy attachments. At Rising Roads Recovery, we can help you learn new life skills to set yourself up for success.

Women’s Only Transitional Living Services

Have you made the first step towards recovery but still need more support on your journey towards independent living? At Rising Roads Recovery, our Rise Up Program is specifically designed to help women who have graduated from inpatient residential drug and alcohol rehab strengthen their new skills of sobriety. At our California women’s recovery center, you can renew your confidence and nurture your recovery in a safe environment. Call (866) 746-1558 to learn more.

How Addiction Affects Women and Men Differently

Today in the United States, women are the fastest-growing portion of the population dealing with substance abuse. The Federal Center for Substance Abuse Prevention estimates approximately 2.7 million women in the United States abuse alcohol or drugs.

No Longer Ignored 
Traditionally, research on substance abuse and addiction used to focus on men. It has only been during the past two decades that there was a shift after U.S. agencies made it a requirement to include women in federally funded studies. Addiction treatment facilities once used research based on men to create their programs, but this has now changed and differences in gender are taken into account.

The Facts
In 2008 it the U.S. National Survey on Drug Use and Health reported that 11.5% of men and 6.4% of women are addicted to substances. Despite the fact that men are more likely to have substance dependence or addiction problems, women tend to become dependent on addictive substances more quickly, can find it harder to quit using and are more likely to relapse.

Although both men and women deal with addiction, females face unique challenges. Here are five things you might not know about women and addiction:

Women and men metabolize substances differently. Because women are, on average, smaller than men one alcoholic beverage has about twice the impact physically that it does on a man, especially on the organs—potentially doing serious damage to a woman’s body much more quickly than it would on a man.

Women are less likely to seek treatment. In addition to financial challenges and social stigma, childcare responsibilities often keep women from seeking the help they need.

Women’s body chemistry can make them more susceptible to addiction. While more research is necessary, some studies have suggested that estrogen may influence the feeling of pressure in the brain that occurs while using substances, potentially making women more likely to experience intense cravings and become addicted to drugs or alcohol.

Women are more likely to relapse. Because women are biologically more vulnerable to addiction, they can be prone to falling back into substance abuse.

Women can be at risk for abusing prescriptions. While men may experiment with prescription opioids to get high, women tend to keep unused medications or even use sedatives to enhance the efficacy of pain killers. Due to the fact that they are more prone to suffer from chronic pain conditions, women are more likely to receive prescription pain relief, which can lead to opioid abuse.

Moving Forward
Women may deal with many trials while battling addiction, but there is hope. Finding the right 12-step program that is specifically designed for women’s needs can help you heal. Rising Roads Recovery has created a program that is dedicated to helping women get and stay sober. Contact us for more information at 1-866-746-1558.