Detox for women recognizes that men and women are inherently different in many ways, even in dealing with substance abuse disorder. Women experience a completely different set of difficulties and experiences brought about by their addiction problem. This is the reason why they should be accorded with an appropriate women’s detox and treatment plan that is tailor-fitted to their unique recovery needs.
While the many conventional detoxification methods also apply to women it is still critical that the specialists handling the detox for women make necessary adjustments in order to ensure that effectiveness of the chosen method.
Detox for women generally differ from men’s detox in the following ways:
Perspective
Most addiction specialists agree that both the detox and formal substance abuse treatment process for women should be seen in the context of the uniqueness of their lives. Women differ from men in terms of their role, responsibilities, and relationships with their immediate and extend families, friends, support systems, and the society in general.
These unique roles, responsibilities, and relationships should be taken into account when deciding and creating a detoxification plan for women. For instance, if the women addict is the breadwinner in the family, inpatient detox that will compel her to take time off from work for several days or even weeks may not be the most suitable detox approach for her.
Screening and Assessment for Detox for Women
While screening and assessment are standard procedures in determining the most suitable detox plan for the recovering addict, extra attention and care should be provided to women patients. Detailed interview, observation, and medical testing should be carried out to have a more accurate picture of the nature and extent of the woman’s substance abuse problem.
Needs
Women possess a different set of needs that need to be fully addressed during the detoxification stage. These needs include the following:
- Issues in the family and social stigma – whether people admit it or not, women who are suffering from substance abuse are viewed in a more negative way than men who with the same addiction problem. This stigma or negative perception stems from the high expectation set for women in the society. Women are expected to serve as role model for their children and to have the ability to balance the demands of raising a family and maintaining a flourishing career.
- Physical and medical problems – studies show that the effects of drugs are different between men and women. Women addicts tend to experience more serious medical and health complications because of drug addiction. These medical issues may include organ or system failure, cancer, and memory problems, among others.
- Mental health disorders – women are found to suffer more from co-occurring disorders than men. Their addiction is usually tied up with various mental health illnesses like depression, anxiety disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD. Women often depend on drugs and alcohol in order to cope with the negative symptoms of these mental health issues.
- Pregnancy and fertility concerns – needless to say, detox specialists should carefully handle the detoxification process of pregnant women. Ample medical care, as well as round the clock monitoring and supervision, should be considered in such cases including all necessary precautions to protect the mother and the unborn baby.
The detoxification process is the critical first step in the recovery journey of any individual suffering from substance abuse disorder. It works on ridding the various systems of the body of chemical residues and toxins to make it more receptive to rehab. It is important to note, however, that gender differences should be carefully considered not only during detox process but until the end of formal treatment.
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