Men and women are different, in many ways. While both deserve equality, since both are humans, you also need to understand some of the differences. One difference, in particular, that many people don’t always think about is the fact that men and women have different reactions to the same amount of drugs or alcohol, and that addiction happens for different reasons for both sexes and is also dealt with differently by both sexes.
According to the Centers For Disease Control (CDC) 44 people die every day in the United States from a drug overdose. Many more of them need help. While it was once thought that drug addiction and alcoholism were more of a man’s issue, the number of women addicts has been increasing.
Why Women Are Different
One of the reason science feels women are different when it comes to the use of drugs and alcohol is their production of estrogen. Estrogen has been found to control the amount of dopamine that is released in a woman’s brain. Some drugs are also known to cause the brain to release dopamine, which is a feel good chemical naturally present in the body.
Because dopamine affects sexual activity and is spiked by drugs, and estrogen can heighten the experience, it makes sense that women risk addiction more than men. On top of that, all women could be different, as the menstrual cycle differences of women also affect how much dopamine is released.
Treating Addiction Differently
Both sexes may struggle with their addiction, and treatment of it. Women, it seems, are less likely to seek help for theirs though. There is a lot of stigma when it comes to women with addiction problems, especially those with children. They fear losing their relationships, their kids, and even their careers.
Once a woman does get the help needed to fight her addiction she has the same rate of success as a man, and the same amount of chances of falling off the wagon as well. The main thing is find a rehab facility that can cater to a woman, that understands the differences for each sex when it comes to addiction.
Once an addict, always an addict. Drugs and alcohol addiction causes a need, a dependance, for the addict and the simplest thing can trigger them to fall back into old, dangerous patterns of abuse and addiction. It’s important for addicts, both men and women, to have a strong support system that can and will help. That means people that don’t drink, don’t do drugs, and don’t have other addiction issues.
With the will to succeed at staying clean, and a great support system, the chances of a relapse are far greater. Find something you want to succeed for, your own health or the safety of your children, and stay a quitter every day.
Originally posted on November 7, 2015 @ 10:14 pm