According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA),

…studies have found that women in drug abuse treatment relapse less frequently than men do, at least partly because women are more likely to engage in group counseling. Other NIDA-supported researchers have found that cocaine-addicted women and men differ in the factors that cause them to relapse, indicating that males and females might benefit from different relapse prevention strategies.

Why the Difference?

There are some who speculate that the reason why women abuse drugs and alcohol is due to the fact that there is a strong tie between drug and alcohol abuse and a past history of physical and/or sexual abuse.  Because of this, over the years, many gender-specific drug and alcohol rehab facilities have sprung up with the hopes of being able to more effectively help women and men experience a life of sobriety.

What the Future Holds

There is no telling what the statistics will be for drug and alcohol abuse for women and men in the future.  However, with the increased number of drug and alcohol rehab options that are becoming available, increased numbers of women and men alike now have a choice when it comes to figuring out how to get their lives back on track.  Similarly, it should be noted that while drug and alcohol facilities aim to help residents recover, true drug and alcohol recovery cannot be restricted to within the confines of a drug and alcohol center.  Rather, drug and alcohol recovery and likelihood of drug/alcohol relapse depends on what that resident does once their residency is completed.

For more information about drug and alcohol recovery, or to learn more about our 30 day drug and alcohol rehab program, contact Mark Houston Recovery today!