Who Can Seek Treatment at a Recovery Center?
While getting help for your addiction should be your number one priority, there are several things that you should be mindful, including finding the right treatment center for you. The programs offered at most facilities are co-gender; however, some drug rehab programs are gender-specific and will provide services that are exclusive to men or women. In addition, some facilities will go as far as limiting drug rehab services to teenagers only. In this article, we will detail some of the fundamental differences between these specific drug recovery programs and why some may be better than others.
WHY DO SOME DRUG REHABS LIMIT TREATMENTS TO MEN OR WOMEN?
Anyone who has undergone a drug addiction recovery can attest to how difficult such a process can be. An environment where men and women can indulge in flings or full-on relationship may very well complicate matters and even detract from the primary objective, overcoming drug addiction. Of course, this is not to suggest that a co-gender environment is inherently bad as many patients have successfully overcome their addiction while in a co-gender facility. Nonetheless, we should keep in mind that any form of distraction while undergoing treatment could impede one’s ability to remain drug-free. So what are the differences between treatments offered at men-only facilities versus women-only facilities? Well, some of the most notable differences include
TREATMENTS EXCLUSIVE TO MEN
Male patients have the freedom to communicate and express thoughts without being distracted by women.
Most male exclusive facilities will place a strong emphasis on physical fitness as part of the recovery efforts.
Male-oriented facilities tend to spend more time assessing the psychological component of a patient’s addiction.
TREATMENTS EXCLUSIVE TO WOMEN
Similar to male-oriented facilities, female-oriented facilities provide an environment where women are free to speak on a variety of topics without being distracted by men.
Many women-only drug treatment facilities will offer childcare.
Female-oriented facilities will often place a strong emphasis on creating a comforting and nurturing environment.
Female-oriented facilities will often include treatments that address problems that are generally exclusive to women including eating domestic abuse and post-partum depression, for example.
Having detailed some of the unique treatments offered to men and women. It is important to reiterate that these treatments are intended to complement traditional services and programs aimed at helping patients overcome addiction.
TREATMENTS EXCLUSIVE TEENAGERS
Studies have shown that treating teens with drug addiction is vastly different than treating adults. As such, most teenager-exclusive facilities have adopted treatment protocols that reward teens based on how well they are progressing through each phase of the recovery process. Counseling, especially cognitive behavioral therapy, is also an integral part of treating teenagers. That said, most of these facilities will emphasize the importance of the patient-therapist relationship as it will invariably dictate how successful teenagers are in overcoming their addiction.
So why is therapy such an integral part of most teenager-based drug recovery programs? Well, young adults are still relatively impressionable, which means that the lessons learned while in treatment are more likely to extend into adulthood. As such, teens are not as likely to relapse after completing recovery and, more importantly, they are less likely to relapse once they have become adults.
While we are the topic of therapy, it should also be noted that motivational interviewing is also a critical part of the recovery process for teenagers. If you are not familiar with motivational interviewing, it is an evaluation process that is conducted by a therapist and used to identify the cause of a patient’s drug addiction. Also, it helps in keeping teens motivate to not only continue therapy but also to succeed.
WHO CAN SEEK TREATMENT AT A RECOVERY CENTER?
If you believe you have a problem with drugs or alcohol, you’re encouraged to seek treatment as soon as possible. In saying that, some facilities may be a better choice than others when it comes to auxiliary services like those aimed at men, women, and teenagers. Nonetheless, your goal should be to choose a facility that ensures your success as you work towards freeing yourself of your addiction. Lastly, it is always a good idea to visit some prospective facilities to get a real feel for the environment, staff, and the programs that they offer. Regardless of which facility you ultimately choose, you should take pride in knowing that you’re one step closer to sobriety.
