Gender Specific Programs in Texas

Over the past couple of decades, research has proven that staying clean and sober is much more likely when a recovering drug or alcohol addict enters into a gender specific program. While drug and alcohol addiction is hardly a thing of the past, it seems as if gender specific drug and alcohol rehab programs is a fairly recent innovation. The idea that men and women are structured differently and may, therefore, have very different needs with regards to their drug and alcohol recovery is an idea that has caught on and is rapidly picking up speed due to its high rate of success.

Among many things that are important to someone who is trying to recover from a drug or alcohol addiction is the type of environment in which he or she is participating in drug or alcohol recovery. Because of this and other issues that arise, more discussion has been occurring among health professionals as well as professionals in the field of chemical dependency for the urgency for more gender specific drug and alcohol rehab centers for men and women.

Taking a Look at Women's Drug Recovery

Inherently, women and men are different beings. Each has a unique set of needs as well as different approaches to drug and alcohol recovery. In many instances (but certainly not all), female alcohol/drug addicts become involved in alcohol or drug abuse due to broken homes in which one or both guardians is abusing drugs or alcohol. Alcohol and drug abuse can also stem from physical abuse or emotional abuse as well as a lack of self confidence. Issues with body image, depression and other unforeseen hormonal changes can also spark drug and alcohol abuse problems in women. Therefore, when discussing drug and alcohol recovery at a drug and alcohol rehab center, it is most important that female alcohol/drug addicts are provided with an atmosphere of comfort, relaxation, cleanliness and security.

While The Mark Houston Recovery Center for Women is NOT a drug and alcohol treatment facility, but rather, a drug and alcohol rehab center, we are still sensitive to the unique and special needs that our female residents may have when trying to recover from a drug or alcohol addiction. Located in the rolling hill countryside near Austin, Texas, The Mark Houston Recovery Center for Women provides women with a calm and focused backdrop within which to complete their drug and alcohol recovery. Additionally, our All-Female staff has first hand experience when it comes to drug and alcohol addiction, which lends credibility to both their willingness as well as ability to guide recovering female alcohol/drug addicts through their journey to sobriety.

Drug and Alcohol Recovery for Women

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), NIDA Director, Dr. Alan Leshner had the following to say with regards to gender specific drug and alcohol programs:

Accumulating evidence indicates that drug abuse may begin and progress differently, have different consequences, and require different prevention and treatment approaches for women and men. Therefore, NIDA has strongly supported research to identify gender differences and gender-specific aspects of drug abuse and addiction and to apply these findings toward more effective drug abuse prevention, treatment, and services for both women and men. [source: http://www.drugabuse.gov/NIDA_Notes/NNVol13N4/DirrepVol13N4.html ]

The main thing to keep in mind when discussing gender specific drug and alcohol rehab for women is that each woman's situation is different. This simply means that there is no one reason why a particular woman may have become involved in drugs or alcohol. Therefore, each woman will have an individualized plan of action in order to best determine what course of action needs to take place- whether this is incorporating something like confidence building exercises or working on physical fitness and nutrition elements. At The Mark Houston Recovery Center for Women, members of our staff can sit down with you and your loved one to figure out the most effective combination of techniques to help you and your loved one realize a life without drugs and alcohol. Call us today at 877.383.4426.