Drug and alcohol addiction is not limited to one age, one gender, or one economic background. However, young women are at a high risk of becoming addicted to some substance. If a woman you know is struggling with an addiction, encourage her to reach out to a women’s rehab program. Doing so could save her life.

One contributing factor is that women had not previously been included in clinical research studies. Federal agencies have made significant strides in recent years to ensure women are included and that specific gender issues are being studied with regard to substance abuse.

Other influences that have contributed to closing the gap between men and women’s substance use disorder over time: more women in the workforce in management and professional positions, higher rates of divorce, and as primary caregivers of young children, women typically have had competing time demands.  Substance abuse also often goes undetected because doctors focus on more complex female biological issues such as weight and metabolic disorders, cancer prevention, pregnancy, heart conditions, and more.

More women are experimenting with and being prescribed various drugs and substances due to anxiety, trauma, and stress also leading to an increase in substance use disorders. According to data by the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC), women also experience a significantly short time between initiation of alcohol use and the onset of addiction. Most women abuse stimulants such as methamphetamine, but prescription opioids are also being highly abused. In addition, the number of women engaging in the non-medical use of opioids has surpassed the number of men by some margin.

Though men lead women in alcohol abuse, this gap has decreased over time. Other substances that women are using include methamphetamine, crack, cocaine, heroin, nicotine, and cannabis.

Research shows that women are at a far greater risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder than men. Sadly, many hesitate to seek professional help. Instead, they often turn to self-medication as a coping mechanism. As a result, women never receive a diagnosis nor do they address issues such as domestic violence, sexual abuse, or childhood trauma. At our women’s addiction treatment program, we provide trauma therapy to help individuals work through their past traumatic experiences and heal.