Clinically Reviewed by Dr. Kate Smith
If your mother, daughter, sister, cousin, friend, or any other woman in your life needs addiction rehab progam in Boston, we are proud to recommend Greater Boston Addiction Centers. While we understand that every human is an individual regardless of gender, we are also aware that many women feel safer in women-only therapy groups. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), over 19.5 million women used illicit drugs in 2016, and 8.4 million women misused prescription drugs. Call our confidential helpline today at Addiction Helpline to learn more about our outpatient women’s addiction recovery program.
Women & Opioids
Doctors have been overprescribing opioids to women for years. Becoming dependent on opiates is not the result of weakness or lack of willpower; taking opioids alters the brain’s survival-related centers, causing people to fear for their lives as the drugs leave their system. The brain instinctively wants the body to be comfortable. Any woman who takes prescription opioids is at risk of developing dependency. The problem is that opiates prohibit individuals from performing basic tasks and living fulfilling lives in addition to providing pain relief. A person dependent on opiates suffers from social, occupational, and survival impairments. Taking too many opiates will eliminate the brain’s drive to breathe.
Opioids and Unexplained Pain
At GBAC, we view pain management as a skill; when you do not use it, you lose it. Opioids make women even more sensitive to pain over time. After extended periods of use, the brain becomes reliant on opioids. Then people lose their ability to handle the stress of everyday life. If your brain sends the message that you are in unbearable pain, your natural response will be to alleviate it. Women are prescribed opioids more frequently than men, so their rates of addiction are also higher. The following opioids have proven to have extremely high rates of chemical dependency:
- Fentanyl
- Heroin
- Xanax
- OxyContin
- Demerol
- Vicodin
- Percocet
- Lorcet
- Dilaudid
Contact Greater Boston Addiction Centers today to learn more about our convenient evening IOP by calling Addiction Helpline.
Alcoholism Treatment for Women
Although men tend to abuse alcohol at higher rates than women, the number of women admitted to alcoholism treatment has been steadily growing. Alcohol is a central nervous system suppressant that can become habit-forming due to trauma, mental health issues, abuse, and environmental factors. Since using addictive substances leads to chemical dependency for some women, seeking alcohol addiction treatment in Boston is an essential first step for many women who have become reliant on alcohol. If you haven’t found a solution with longevity, our team of dedicated clinicians, therapists, and organizers are here to help. We offer partial hospitalization and outpatient drug rehabilitation near Needham, MA.
How to Know It’s Time for Treatment
If you’re considering treatment, you are already at a point where you can acknowledge that your addiction to drugs or alcohol is negatively impacting multiple areas of your life. You are a candidate for treatment if you meet any of the following criteria:
- You frequently binge drink or use prescription medication longer than directed and in larger doses than directed.
- A lot of time that once went to things you enjoy now goes to obtaining, taking, and then recovering from using drugs or drinking alcohol.
- You experience intense cravings for drugs or alcohol that do not subside until you give in.
- Your use of drugs or alcohol is negatively impacting your ability to meet expectations, goals, or responsibilities at home, work, or school.
- Even your closest relationships are starting to suffer because of your use of drugs or alcohol.
- Your use of drugs or alcohol occurs even at times when it is especially dangerous, such as while driving or babysitting.
- You continue to use drugs or alcohol even though you know it negatively affects your pre-existing mental health issues like anxiety, depression, or paranoia.
- You’ve built your tolerance to drugs or alcohol so high that you require more of the substance to reach desired effects, putting you at risk of accidental overdose.
- When you cannot drink or use drugs, you experience withdrawal symptoms such as sweating, vomiting, fatigue, seizures, or hallucinations.
- You are incapable of stopping your use of drugs or alcohol on your own, even if you want to stop.
Getting Help is the Bravest Option
Most Americans are aware of the dangers associated with drug addiction. Still, the general population does not fully comprehend the suffering and day-to-day struggles of the people–especially women–locked in the grip of opioid addiction. Women are more likely to be prescribed opioids than men and are more likely to develop a dependency. GBAC offers a rigorous, research-centered, practical approach to addiction treatment in the Boston area. Attending treatment for opioid addiction is inconvenient, but for many women, the alternative is worse.
Drug Addiction Treatment Programs for Women
Whether you are searching for partial hospitalization or outpatient services, we offer the tools, resources, and strategies to help you get–and stay–sober. GBAC also provides aftercare and sober living referral options as a means of relapse prevention. To find out more about our men’s drug addiction rehab program, don’t hesitate to contact GBAC today.
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