Drugs affect men and women in unique psychological and physical ways. Women’s bodies respond in a different way to drugs, especially illicit ones. While both genders are just as likely to get addicted, women often experience more intense cravings, and are much more likely to relapse. There are extra risk factors that put women at risk of substance abuse.

Here at AspenRidge Recovery, we acknowledge that drugs affect women and men differently. To better help women get sober, we offer a 90 day women’s addiction treatment program. The program tailors to specific factors that affect women only. We’re confident that our program is effective and will yield excellent results. Here are 5 reasons why.

Reason #1: We Offer an Intimate and Attentive Care by Limiting the Group Size

Illicit drugs affect each woman in a different way. Some women are more prone to certain symptoms than others. Our 90 day women’s addiction treatment program is tailored to each woman’s needs. We provide intimate around-the-clock attention and care to each patient by limiting the program to only eight patients.

Smaller group sizes in rehab often come with many benefits. For one, it’s easier for patients to connect with one another and to create a safe and open environment. During group therapy, there’s also more time for each patient to address specific concerns. Other benefits of small group sizes include:

• A more personalized approach for dealing with co-occurring disorders and other complications
• Better medical supervision to lessen the intensity of withdrawal symptoms
• Enhanced connectedness, as patients receive more support from one another

Smaller group sizes will benefit all types of patients. This is why we stand by having only eight patients at a time in our 90 day women’s addiction treatment program. The level of intimacy in this rehab program is especially effective for those who have:

• A long history of drug use and addiction
• Co-occurring mental conditions, like depression
• Little to no support from family and friends
• Prior failed attempts at getting sober

This program enables our staff to focus on providing the best treatment and care possible.

Reason #2: The Program Length Is Designed to Prevent Relapses by Resetting the Brain

Our 90 day in-house addiction treatment program works towards resetting the brain. In the first several weeks of rehab, the body is still adjusting to the absence of drugs. It takes time for the body and brain to break free of physical or psychological influences the drugs had.

Brain chemistry levels are still adjusting and fluctuating in the first several weeks. In particular, neurotransmitter levels are stabilizing. For example, it takes time for dopamine and serotonin levels to reach a normal range.

Addiction rewires the brain completely. It causes it to go haywire, and associate drugs with feelings of euphoria. The brain’s prefrontal cortex needs time to relearn how to make better decisions and how to form good habits once again. This, unfortunately, takes time. Many experts claim that your brain needs at least 90 days to form a new habit. As a result, you’re much more likely to relapse during the first 90 days of rehab. Studies have shown that patients who seek longer treatment plans are less likely to relapse because of this reason.

According to data collected in a study in the Archives of General Psychiatry, 35% of patients, who sought treatment for less than 90 days, relapsed within the first year. In comparison, of those who sought treatment for over 90 days, only 17% of patients relapsed.

During the first month, patients deal with the physical withdrawal symptoms of getting clean. They’ll need medical detox and both physical and emotional counselling and therapy. While physical withdrawal symptoms may subside, psychological ones become stronger. This is where a longer treatment plan kicks in.

Longer treatment plans teach patients how to build better habits to handle their triggers. The more that these skills are practiced during rehab, the more control patients will have over their addiction when they get out. They develop sound habits

There’s scientific evidence that proves it takes the brain 90 days to reset itself and to shake free of the influences of drugs. Because of these reasons, longer addiction treatment plans generally have higher success rates.

Reason #3: Addiction Cues and Triggers Are Silenced Via a Calming Environment

Your brain can sabotage your recovery. When stressed, it increases activity at an area known as the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC). If there’s an increase in an activity in that region, addicts are eight times more likely to relapse. This is especially true for alcoholics.

The vmPFC is an area in the brain involved in decision-making. Heightened activity can cause the brain to place a higher level of importance on drug use.

The best way to calm down the brain is to provide a neutral and relaxing environment. This is what our 90 day women’s addiction treatment program strives to achieve. Our in-house treatment program is set in calming facilities that help patients feel relaxed. It keeps patients away from external stresses, so patients can focus on getting sober.

The facilities are clean, bright and free of unnecessary stimuli, like bright lights or loud noises. This prevents the brain from getting overstimulated, and allows patients to fully relax. The calming environment helps lessen the intensity of psychological withdrawal symptoms. This, in return, helps to prevent the risk of relapses.

During the treatment, patients are taught valuable skills that help them control their addictions and deal with triggers. It’s much easier to pick up and practice these skills in a controlled environment.

Reason #4: We Deal with Specific Risk and Stress Factors that Are More Likely to Affect Women

Knowing the different risk factors of each gender is key in fighting addictions. Our program provides a wide range of services. We offer practical life skills classes and therapies aimed at improving one’s mental health.

One of the highest risk factors for women is trauma. As a result, many of our treatments focus on how to deal with the aftermath of traumatic events. This might include how to deal with sensitive issues, like miscarriage and rape.

All our therapies in the 90 day women’s addiction treatment program are female-specific. They address topics like:

• How to juggle self-care with family life
• How to deal with the stresses of family caretaking

By looking at trauma involved with addictions and female-specific issues, we are able to reduce the risk of relapse. It’s important to note that women have different biological and physiological responses to drug use. They also have different vulnerabilities that need to be addressed.

The Four Primary Objectives of Gender-Specific Treatment Programs

Our 90 days women’s addiction treatment program aims to accomplish four objectives. The program aims to:

• Identify and address female-specific risk factors
• Identify subgroups that are more likely to need enhanced care due to a higher risk of relapse
• Improve the quality of mental health care for women by addressing gender-specific concerns
• Redirect women to specific resources and specialized treatment programs that work for them

Gender-specific treatment programs offer a higher quality of care, and can pave the road to recovery. It’s a great place to begin healing.

Reason #5: We Offer Specific Treatment Programs that Deal with Female-Specific Substance Abuse Risk Factors

Trauma is a common risk factor for drug addiction among women. As a result, we offer specific therapies that deal with post-traumatic stress. Popular therapies for treating trauma and addiction include:

• Cognitive Processing Therapy
• Equine assisted therapy
• Experiential therapies
• Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)
• Narrative therapies

Most patients will also be required to join an individual, group or family therapy group. Individual therapy gives you an opportunity to explore your inner mind. You’ll learn more about yourself. On the other hand, you can seek external support from others going through the same thing in group therapy.

Patients can pick and choose the type of therapy that best suits their needs. Therapy is an integral part of recovery. It’s important to deal with the underlying factors that led to drug use, abuse and dependence. Therapy heals the mind.

The skills learned in therapy help patients better deal with their addiction. They learn how to face their triggers and how to replace poor habits with better ones.

A combination of different therapeutic modalities may be used by each patient. We encourage patients to try different forms and types of therapies to find ones that work best for them.

Free Yourself from the Grasps of Addiction

The first step to recovery is admitting that you have a problem.

If your drug use is starting to concern you, take our addiction quizzes to see whether your drug use is a problem. Our quizzes will determine whether you’re an addict, and whether you need professional help.

Check out our 90 day women’s addiction treatment program to see what we can do to help. We offer a combination of medical detoxification treatments and therapies. You can pick and choose various options to come up with a personalized plan that works for you.

Don’t let drug addiction and use take control of your life any longer. Be proactive and take the first steps necessary to free yourself from the grasps of addiction.