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American Addiction Centers National Rehabs Directory

Drug and Alcohol Addiction Rehab for Women

What Is Drug and Alcohol Rehab for Women?

As a woman, you may have to deal with issues involving family and children in a different way than a man in recovery would. Women may have identity issues that tie in to their addiction problems. Many women also struggle with past sexual trauma that has never been addressed. A woman-focused rehab program can help you address the specific areas that drive your addictive behaviors and offer the coping skills you’ll need for a successful recovery.

Women’s Addiction Treatment Settings

Traditional drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs have a lot to offer someone who is struggling with addiction problems. The steps involving detoxification, therapy, and aftercare support are necessary for anyone who wants to recover from addiction. Since women and men can be different on various levels, females with addiction problems often desire treatment approaches that address life issues specific to them.

Depending on initial intake and evaluation, there are various addiction treatment settings that may best accommodate a woman’s needs. These may include any combination of medical detoxification, inpatient rehabilitation, outpatient treatment, behavioral therapy, mutual support groups, and aftercare.

Women’s Drug and Alcohol Detox Programs

Intake comes first in the rehabilitation process. This is when the woman will physically arrive at the program location and begin staying onsite or have her first session at an outpatient clinic. Depending on the specific type of substance(s) that were used, a females’ rehab program will first focus on detoxification.

This process helps stabilize a woman in recovery as her body clears itself of the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. During this time, withdrawal symptoms are monitored by medical professionals and may be medically managed, when necessary.

After detoxification, patients can move on to rehabilitation. The program will focus on behavioral therapy for the substance use disorder, whether it is a specific drug addiction or alcohol addiction. Rehab for females focuses on specialized care that encourages women to interact with other women who are their peers, talk about issues that face women, and discuss the issues that led to drug or alcohol addiction.

Residential/Inpatient Addiction Treatment Centers for Women

Inpatient facilities allow patients to live in the center, which allows for 24-hour care. Women who have severe addictions may prefer the safety and stability of living in a facility that is free of drugs or alcohol. This helps reduce the risk of relapse since patients are separated from their environment and able to focus solely on recovery. Many individuals benefit from this highly-structured environment.

Inpatient rehab for women can include rehabilitation centers that focus on mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual support for females recovering from drug and alcohol abuse. Women-only rehab centers are located in many places around the world, so whether a patient is willing to travel or prefer to attend a rehab that is close to home, those needing help with their addiction problem can easily find a treatment center that is comforting and supportive during rehabilitation.

Addiction treatment facilities for women—which allow only females into the program—can be especially therapeutic to those who may be uncomfortable in a residential setting with men or thrive with the support and connection made with other women in recovery. These facilities help females work together to support a drug- and alcohol-free lifestyle.

Benefits of Women’s Residential Inpatient Addiction Treatment

Women who feel too stressed living at home or may more easily relapse if they remain immersed in their regular activities may wish to enroll in an inpatient residential rehab program. This will allow them to fully separate from their day-to-day activities, friends, and stressors that could lead to relapse. If any of the following factors apply to you, you may require inpatient treatment as opposed to outpatient:1

An inpatient or residential setting can help women stay safe and abstinent while undergoing substance abuse treatment, which may include individual therapy, group counseling, peer support meetings, family therapy, and more.

Outpatient Drug & Alcohol Rehab for Women

Outpatient clinics that focus on rehab for women provide females the opportunity to receive treatment that is close so there is more time at home, work, or school, which can help keep daily activities normal and regular.

Outpatient care varies from an inpatient or residential program in that it does not require the patient to reside at the facility. Women are allowed to live at home outside of treatment hours, which may consist of multiple sessions a week and then decrease in frequency as treatment progresses.

These clinics focus their treatment toward the needs of women with steadfast mindfulness of the ways women best respond to treatments. They are also sensitive to potential trauma or the trauma-related disorders of women. Based on patient assessment, there may be several potentially appropriate levels of outpatient care including intensive outpatient (IOP) and partial hospitalization (PHP).

What Is Treated at a Women’s-Only Rehab Center?

Some of the specific addictions treated are listed below, but essentially any addiction a woman is struggling with can be treated at rehab. Some of the most common addictions that need treatment include:

Female Treatment Considerations

Substance misuse impacts people differently and this holds true across genders as well. Rehab for women does not necessarily need to be the same as rehab for men; there are special considerations for each gender. For example, some influencing issues and distinct needs specific to women addicted to drugs or alcohol may include:2

  • Disconnections: Females may be profoundly impacted by behavioral and psychological issues, such as low self-esteem and feelings of powerlessness, resulting from disconnection. Disconnections involve imbalanced power dynamics, feelings of being unheard, sexual abuse, violence, and more.
  • Family Influences: Many women or girls who were raised in households where substance abuse, sexual abuse, or physical abuse took place often encounter similar environments in adulthood and have partners or friends who engage in similar problematic behaviors. These environments may enable a woman’s drug or alcohol misuse. It’s vital that treatment professionals assess how addiction is impacting family and other social relationships. Relational skills, such as problem solving, communication, stress management, assertiveness, and parenting, are often important parts of addiction treatment for women.
  • Partner Relationships: Females may stay in damaging relationships because they think that they are expected to maintain a relationship regardless of how harmful or abusive it is. Some women stay in relationships because of financial or social dependence on their spouse. Treatment professionals need to be aware of the female patient’s tumultuous relationship and help to harness individuality, healthy solitude, and autonomy.
  • Sexuality: Healthy sexuality may be an important part of identity and self-worth. The addiction counselor will need to evaluate and explore the connection between drug addiction and sexual identity, sexual assault or abuse, body image, and sexuality.
  • Pregnancy: Many substance-abusing pregnant women experience significant stress, which may be a result of shame and stigma of drinking or using drugs while pregnant, anxiety about fetal health, anxiety about care-taking, and discomfort. Female-only treatment programs need to provide a safe, supportive, and nonjudgmental environment for these patients and make sure their needs are met. An addiction counselor must also encourage the woman to meet with her prenatal care doctor.
  • Parenting: A woman’s relationship with her children can greatly impact the course of recovery from drug or alcohol addiction. These programs often offer parenting classes and therapy to help strengthen the parent-child bond. Rehabs may also offer medical and psychiatric care for children, and if they don’t provide it themselves, they may refer the children to another agency.
  • History of Trauma: Females are impacted by trauma in several different ways. Some women develop post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or other mood or anxiety disorders in response to traumatic events, such as physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, and many may use drugs or alcohol to cope with various mental and physical health symptoms associated with past traumas. Women-only rehabs should have experience in treating a dual diagnosis of addiction and PTSD. The staff members should be experienced in providing trauma-informed care.

Since women often have different addiction and mental health treatment needs than men, female-only rehabs can be a beneficial and appropriate choice for a woman looking to achieve and maintain sobriety.

Dual Diagnosis Treatment for Women

Some women could suffer from both substance misuse (such as drug or alcohol addiction) as well as mental health disorder (such as depression or anxiety). A tailored program can be created to help with the treatment of both, which is commonly referred to as dual diagnosis treatment.

Dual diagnoses require integrated and comprehensive care to fully address and rectify both conditions. This type of treatment is offered by treatment centers that provide rehab from substance misuse and help with mental health related issues. You can find out more in our dual diagnosis treatment guide.

How Long Does Inpatient Rehabilitation Last?

Residential inpatient rehab for women can be short or long. The precise duration of needed treatment will be determined by several variables, including addiction severity and any past treatment experiences, and could change based on the recommendation of the evaluating treatment professional. Possible rehabilitation timeframes include:

Paying for Women’s Drug and Alcohol Rehab

Rehab costs for women can vary, so it is important to look at all your options. The prices associated with the programs vary depending on a number of factors including:

  • Length of stay.
  • Treatment setting.
  • Federally/government funded or private.
  • Amenities.

If you’d like to know whether your health insurance may cover the full or partial cost of rehabilitation at one of American Addiction Centers’ rehab centers across the United States, simply fill in your information in the form below.

Best Rehab Centers for Women Near Me

If you’re looking for the best inpatient residential rehab center for females near you, it’s important to carefully consider the various types of treatment programs available to ensure your needs are met. The best and most effective treatment is that which is tailored to your individual needs, whether it’s short- or long-term, residential inpatient, outpatient or dual diagnosis programs.

Depending on your location, you may find there is not an appropriate treatment program in your area for women. However, if there are programs nearby, consider the pros and cons of being admitted to a local program versus traveling out of state. Our rehab directory can help you search through treatment providers throughout the United States. Some popular states include California, New Jersey, Florida and Texas.

Find the Help You Need Today

It is never too late to stop drug or alcohol use. Rehab for women is available at all times of the day, and some treatment programs even allow for immediate admission. If you aren’t sure which program is right for you, a helpline or directory can help you learn more about your options, you can call us at .

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