Prescription opiate addiction requires appropriate, professional treatment across the board, but women who become addicted to these drugs often need certain types of rehab programs catered to their specific needs.

If you have been struggling with prescription opiate addiction and need professional care appropriate to your situation, call 800-442-6158 Who Answers? now.

Concerns for Treating Female Patients with Prescription Opioid Addictions

The issues often associated with the female gender that could affect recovery are important to be aware of and to consider, especially if you are a woman looking for prescription addiction rehab. These might include:

• A history of “physical and sexual trauma followed by post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)” that has gone untreated, one of the predominant life experiences in women that can lead to substance abuse (National Institute on Drug Abuse)
• How the patient came into treatment (as women are more likely to seek care from a general health practitioner)
• Family concerns (children, pregnancy, etc.)
• Financial independence (which can cause many women to avoid seeking treatment)

The possibility of all of these issues should be taken into account. In addition, it is important to consider why you or your loved one began abusing prescription opioids in the first place. According to the NIDA, women are less likely than men to begin abusing prescription medications, but this could have occurred for a number of reasons, one of which may be associated with one of the issues listed above or another important factor associated with gender.

Why Must Women’s Needs Be Concerned in Treatment?

Some women abuse opioids to cope with PTSD.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, “While women are as likely to stay and engage in treatment as men, substance abuse counselors need to attend to individual, counselor, and environmental variables to secure the best retention rates based on level of care and presenting problems.” If not, some of the issues that are highly specific to women in substance abuse recovery might go untreated and unnoticed, leading to a higher chance of relapse.

It can be hard to keep someone in treatment and to make that treatment work properly if the individual is not receiving the appropriate care. And if major issues like a comorbid disorder or a financial problem are ignored by clinicians, it is likely that all the work done in rehab will begin to unravel as the result of an incomprehensive treatment program.

How Can I Make Sure These Concerns Are Met?

There are a few things you can do to ensure that you or your loved one will receive the well-rounded treatment needed that does not ignore the special concerns for female patients.

• Make a list of all the needs your treatment program should cover, including those not associated with your substance abuse.
• Consider your financial situation and the cost you can afford for treatment.
• Ask your friends and family who want to see you recover for their help.
• Discuss your recovery needs with your personal physician, especially if they originally prescribed you the medication.
• Ask yourself if any issues you experience pertaining to your gender may also pertain to your recovery needs.

Seek Treatment for Prescription Opiate Addiction Today

Don’t let your problem get worse with time. Seek help by calling 800-442-6158 Who Answers? now, and find a rehab center that will cater to your needs.

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