Drug and Alcohol Rehab for Men

It is no surprise that men and women recover from drug addiction and alcohol addiction differently. In fact, past reports from the National  Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) have suggested that gender differences are actually extremely important when considering drug abuse, alcohol abuse as well as how it impacts the recovery process for men. One reason why some men consume alcohol is due to external circumstances that shape their life. For instance, in a married relationship, the male partner may feel pressured to keep up the facade of being the “breadwinner” or may have fears or concerns about his job security. Sometimes stress at work can cause someone to drink alcohol to excess. Often times, male alcoholics may think that if they could only change their external situations (I.e. getting a new job) that it may alleviate their drinking problem. Little do they realize, however, that seldom does this work. Instead, male addicts need to start thinking about how they are going to change the way that they digest what happens in their life.

Some differences between the genders come down to physical factors such as rate of metabolism (which affects the body's ability to absorb drugs and/or alcohol) as well as hormones. Dr. Scott E. Lukas and his colleagues from the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Research Center in Belmont, Massachusetts have been conducting studies on gender differences between women, men and drug abuse and discovered that sex hormones can actually interact with neurotransmitters during normal brain functioning. [source] This is poignant because it points out that there ARE recovery differences in addiction for men versus women. Therefore, a case could be made for a Men's Only Rehab Center to address the unique needs that men might have throughout the drug and alcohol recovery process.

Men's Only Rehab & Recovery Options

Why do so many men turn to drinking alcohol? For many male alcohol addicts, the need to drink stems from the need to fill a void in their lives. Perhaps this void was created by an abusive parent or relative. Perhaps it is due to stress or some other relationship problem. Sometimes this void is caused by the inability to connect to or lack of awareness of a Higher Power. Feeling as if their lives are missing something, many men turn to the bottle in a failed attempt to fill this void. However, what they are unable to see in that moment is that drinking is not a solution to their problem. Rather, feeling connected to something greater than yourself and having this sense of internal connectedness is what they really desire as a sober beings. Knowing that men approach drug and alcohol abuse differently than women means that it only makes sense, therefore, to have a men's only drug and alcohol rehab center. At Mark Houston Recovery, we maintain an all-male drug and alcohol rehab center so that men can feel comfortable expressing themselves and stay focused on the various structured services and activities that our staff members put together to enrich their recovery process.

In addition to maintaining a men's only rehab center for drug and alcohol recovery, Mark Houston Recovery also limits the number or residents that we accept for each program. By having a high staff-to-resident ratio, this creates an environment of increased attention and accountability for each of our residents, something which has proven to be extremely effective.

Recovery Differences in Drug Addiction and Alcohol Abuse for Men

According to NIDA, men are more likely than women to have opportunities to use drugs, but men and women (given an opportunity to use drugs for the first time) are equally likely to do so and to progress from initial use to addiction. [source] Perhaps even more alarming still is the fact that research shows that men are more likely than women to suffer from drug and/or alcohol relapse (See Our 12 Month Guarantee) . Part of the reason for the drug and alcohol recovery differences between men and women is the fact that many men require a longer continuum of care for their drug or alcohol problem. The longer the recovery program, the more time a male has to develop his inner resources and life skills which are necessary in order to live a life of sobriety.

At Mark Houston Recovery, we are more than well aware that a certain percentage of addicted male drug and alcohol addicts will relapse back into drug or alcohol addiction following the completion of a residential clinical treatment program. This can have devastating effects for the male addict who continues to struggle with failure related to his drug or alcohol addiction. Mark Houston Recovery offers hope and encouragement for men who are struggling with drug and alcohol addiction. Our unique drug and alcohol rehab program in Texas consists of a men's only rehab that includes the option between a 30-day, 60-day or 90-day stay in one of our four ranch-style residential homes spread out over lots breathtaking acres of land. If you know of a male who is in need of help for his drug or alcohol addiction, give us a call today at 866.877.6080.