How Detox is Different for Men and Women
There is no one size fits all detox program. Addiction indicates an individual diagnosis, treatment plan, and recovery for each individual. Although this is true, people wonder if there are differences in detox programs for men and women. Gender is a factor in developing the individual treatment plan because men differ from women in many ways. While the conventional medical processes in detox remain the same for both sexes, adjustments can be made for gender and the individual.
The Basics of Medical Detox for Both Men and Women
Before medical detox can be set into motion, treatment professionals must perform an evaluation, assessment, and physical exam. This is true for detox programs for men and women; the factors related to gender in these assessments can be different. Therefore, identifying gender-specific medical and psychological aspects of addiction and mental health is essential. In addition, professional treatment centers receive new sources of additional treatment options regularly to provide the latest and most effective practices for detox.
Medical detox is performed to rid the body of the abused substance. Medical supervision throughout the entire detox process ensures safety and medical attention if needed during this process. Detox programs for men and women are similar in this aspect. Navigating uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms is an issue for both genders. Some detox aspects are different for each gender, and some centers pay strict attention to the differences and incorporate them into their detox programs.
Why Does Gender Make a Difference in Medical Detox?
Individualized medical detox is a must, but gender factors are specific and can make a difference in detox. Detox programs for men and women are different for several reasons. First, the roles and responsibilities of men and women are very different. Relationship factors are gender-specific as well. When interviewing and evaluating the patient for medical detox, these factors are essential in how treatments must be applied.
Gender differences are physical, mental, and psychological. Women and men think, feel, react differently and become addicted for diverse reasons. Gender-specific medical detox programs consider these unique differences when establishing medical detox protocols. Detox programs for men and women differ because physical differences affect how a substance is metabolized in the body. Psychologically, past traumas differ for men and women and how they react in treatment to face their truths.
The Benefits of Medical Detox for Women
Addiction treatment research indicates that women are addicted at a lower percentage than men but experience more severe ramifications from addiction. Using detox programs for men and women specifically can address the unique challenges of motherhood for women with a substance abuse disorder. For example, childcare and family responsibilities differ, and women feel extreme shame for being bad mothers, partners, or wives. Women’s detox programs can address this factor to aid a woman to start rebuilding their life.
Women are also more likely to experience physical side effects of addiction than men. In addition, underlying mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety are often a factor. Finally, women are victims of different traumas than men and may have experienced gender-specific vulnerabilities due to abuse during addiction. The benefits of detox programs for men and women can address these differences.
Detox programs designed for women can address the following factors:
- Freedom to be open to exploring traumas related to their addiction
- No distractions of having attention from the opposite sex
- Women-based support system and educational support from a woman’s perspective
- Woman specific treatment
Women are the only sex affected by pregnancy and fertility concerns. Therefore, detox for pregnant women must be carefully monitored by medical professionals. Unfortunately, this difference in detox programs for men and women is a reality to be addressed. Additional fears of damage to the unborn baby causes escalated anxiety and extreme emotions.
The Benefits of Medical Detox for Men
Just as women have their issues, pressures, and physical needs in detox, men are afflicted with substantial societal pressures from an early age. As a result, detox programs for men and women differ in their unique gender-related challenges. In addition, this pressure affects how open a man feels during detox to express their needs and problems. With the thinking processes already involved by drug or alcohol use, they also cling to the belief that they must appear strong at all times.
Men, in general, have difficulties with being vulnerable. Therefore, medical detox can be a vulnerable experience for men. The admission of addiction, receiving help from someone they do not know, and ultimately not being in control of the situation is intense and fear-filled. When choosing detox programs for men and women, this is one of the main factors involved in specialized care.
Medical detox geared toward men can help open up to address unresolved issues that may have caused the addiction. Facing past traumas can be extremely difficult, and men would rather quit detox than explore those situations. Offering a bonding between men can ease this difficulty. In addition, detox programs for men and women can offer a sense of safety within their gender-specific treatment guidelines.
The benefits of participating in a men’s detox program could include the following:
- Forming bonds with other men who understand struggling with addiction
- Removal of any sexual tensions that could arise
- Addresses the factors men face with addiction and recovery
- Begins the practice of building a solid support system of other men
Find Help for Medical Detox Programs for Men and Women in Georgia
Contact our treatment facility if you are interested in learning more about gender-specific medical detox and treatment options in Georgia. Retreat of Atlanta provides medical detox programs to address the needs and issues men and women face when deciding to leave addiction behind. The decision to live a sober lifestyle is the beginning of an exciting journey. Contact us for more information.