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The Pathways to Addiction and Recovery are Different for Women
Article written by Barbara Dacri, executive director of Crossroads for Women, for the Fall 2006 Maine Women's Journal
Promiscuous, depraved, irresponsible – are these the images you conjure up when you think about an alcohol or drug addicted woman? What if she is pregnant or a mother?
There is a tremendous social stigma attached to the abuse of alcohol or drugs by a woman. Shame and the fear of severe consequences often lead women and their families to minimize or deny the existence of a substance abuse problem. Perhaps this is why children learn of their dad’s alcoholism at approximately 12.6 years of age, while they typically learn of their mother’s alcoholism at 18.3 years of age. Perhaps this is why women enter substance abuse treatment at a much later stage than men.
The pathways that lead women to alcohol and drug addiction are different than those of males, as are the pathways that lead women to recovery.
Addiction research on women is historically scarce. The primary addiction treatment model used in the United States is based on studies of middle aged, white males. It wasn’t until 1978 that the courage and candor of First Lady Betty Ford to publicly disclose her addiction to alcohol and other drugs sparked a surge of interest by research and treatment entities to examine the special needs of addicted women.
There are distinct and important differences between men and women when comparing substance use experiences. Women are far more likely than men to have been separated from their parents early in their lives through divorce or death; to have experienced parental neglect, rejection, and/or violence in their families; and to have parents who are addicted. Women are more likely to have experienced physical and/or sexual abuse. Women exhibit more depression and suicidal tendencies.
Women entering treatment are also more likely than men to remain responsible for their children. They will often postpone, decline or leave treatment if their relationship to their children is jeopardized. Unfortunately, women’s fears are frequently justified since there often isn’t a safe partner, family member or friend who can care for her children while she participates in residential treatment.
Healing from addiction requires that we immerse women in environments in which they can experience healthy relationships with staff and each other. The experience of trauma and the lack of healthy relationships are extremely common in the lives of addicted women. Women entering treatment often come with a heavy burden of shame and a simmering mistrust of other women. The development of healthy connections with other women is crucial to their recovery.
The progressive stages of chemical use, abuse and dependency affect the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual make up of the individual. A holistic recovery environment geared to women’s needs fosters healing and is characterized by elements of physical and emotional safety, non-authoritarian relationships with staff, and firm but respectful limits.
Our understanding of the best way to treat addicted women is continuing to expand. Research has clearly indicated that addiction treatment programs, like Crossroads for Women in Portland, that address women’s specific issues are more effective for women than traditional co-ed treatment programs, particularly in the early stages of recovery. With more programs like this, we can work to reduce the stigma attached to addicted women and eliminate the barriers surrounding women’s access to appropriate treatment.
Barbara Dacri is the executive director of Portland-based Crossroads for Women. Her expertise is in gender-specific substance abuse treatment. Crossroads for Women addresses substance abuse and other behavioral health issues so that women and their families can live healthy and independent lives. FMI, call 207.773.9931 or visit www.crossroadsforwomen.org.
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