Benefits of Gender-Specific Care

A group of women sitting on top of a couch.


Newport Beach Recovery Center is a co-ed treatment facility that encourages healthy peer interactions. We use gender-specific care to ensure all clients receive access to the resources and support they need to heal from the effects of substance use disorder (SUD) and related mental health issues. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), “Substance use disorders may progress differently for women than for men.†We use gender-specific care and gender-focused group therapy to ensure all our clients participate in effective treatment relevant to their lived experiences.

How Does Gender-Specific Care Relate to Addiction Recovery?

Gender-specific care is a valuable part of treatment for all clients, especially for individuals who identify as LGBTQIA+. Addictive behaviors often have motivations and underlying causes that statistically differ based on several factors, including age and gender. According to the previously mentioned research published by NIDA, “Women are more likely to seek treatment for dependence on sedatives such as anti-anxiety and sleep medications.†In addition, “They typically enter substance use disorder treatment with more severe medical, behavioral, psychological, and social problems.†In contrast, men are more likely to be diagnosed with SUD related to alcohol, marijuana, and pain relievers.

Gender-specific care targets the side effects, symptoms, and possible causes of SUD experienced by specific clients. In most cases, the differences in motivation and risk factors for men and women require tailored treatments. Our dedicated team of experts uses gender-focused therapy to ensure men and women have an opportunity to explore various aspects of their recovery and rehabilitation that might not be accessible in co-ed-only groups. We want to give clients every resource possible to help them grow and heal.

Treatment Differences Between Genders

Treatment can differ slightly between genders due to typical issues faced by each group. In addition, many individuals in recovery feel more comfortable discussing sensitive topics with others who can relate to their personal experiences. Men and women may have difficulty interacting with the opposite gender due to trauma or stigmas associated with certain sensitive topics.

Some of the benefits include:

  • People often feel more comfortable being vulnerable in same-sex groups
  • The subjects covered in gender-specific therapy are more relevant to the participants
  • Gender-focused treatment can provide more significant relief and improve symptom management

The treatments we use will depend on the client’s relationship with SUD and any co-occurring conditions. The care team at Newport Beach Recovery Center collaborates with each client to ensure they join the therapy groups that best address their symptoms and recovery goals.

Feeling Comfortable Discussing Sensitive Topics

Some topics are more sensitive, and clients may not feel comfortable disclosing details about them during co-ed therapy sessions. Rehabilitation programs are often short-term, and gender-specific care is an excellent way to make noticeable progress within a limited time frame. Clients who feel accepted and understood in a recovery community are more likely to actively participate in group therapy and activities.

Gender-specific care can empower people to be more vulnerable and improve the following:

  • Self-confidence
  • Self-esteem
  • Self-efficacy
  • Accountability
  • Honest communication
  • Peer encouragement
  • Social skills

Group therapy allows clients to share their thoughts, feelings, successes, and worries without judgment. We have created a family-like environment where everyone can feel confident communicating their needs and preferences. We believe that clients should be able to choose what direction their treatment takes because their inner strength and motivation will determine how effectively they can use the tools we provide.

The Science Behind Gender-Specific Care

In recent years, gender-specific care has become more prevalent in mental health, medical, and substance misuse treatment centers. Research has shown that it works effectively with vulnerable populations. In addition to providing valuable skill development to men and women in recovery, gender-focused therapy also ensures that transgender, non-binary, and other people who identify as LGBTQIA+ can have gender-affirming care during rehabilitation.

Science has proven that each gender often benefits from unique approaches to treatment. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), “National data consistently shows that gender is an important factor to consider when examining patterns of substance abuse.” The differences between genders “may help inform the design of prevention, outreach, and treatment services for specific gender and age groups.” We use comprehensive assessments to determine which treatment options will benefit each client.

Aftercare and Gender-Specific Referrals

Men and women can benefit from different aftercare resources. Newport Beach Recovery Center provides referrals to every relevant service, program, and advocacy group that can assist clients in maintaining sobriety and healthy behaviors. A few ways we tailor aftercare to specific needs include:

  • Providing information on gender-specific support and self-help groups
  • Referring clients to doctor and therapist offices that specialize in gender-specific care
  • Assisting clients in locating and applying for gender-specific local, state, and federal resources
  • Providing details on gender-affirming resources for individuals who identify as LGBTQIA+

Gender-specific care allows individuals to engage with others who share similar life experiences. Being comfortable with peers in recovery can make opening up during discussions about vulnerable subjects easier, enhancing the effectiveness of group therapy and community activities. We understand that you might feel safer interacting with peers who have similar motivations and goals. Statistically, each gender has different risk factors and certain treatments that work best for them. We use a comprehensive admissions assessment to determine which groups you would most benefit from joining during rehabilitation. Ultimately, it is up to you to decide which groups you will feel most comfortable participating joining. Newport Beach Recovery Center accommodates and celebrates diversity. Individuals who identify as LGBTQIA+ can choose which gender-focused group to join. Find out more about our services and programs by calling our office today at (888) 850-0363.

How Gender Specific Treatment is Beneficial for Women


Overcoming drug and alcohol addiction is tough for anyone, but modern research is indicating that women are less likely than men to undergo treatment. This is because of a multitude of factors, including the fact that women often do not have easy access to treatment. Furthermore, many addiction treatment programs have not been updated in years, and they stem from methods that were primarily geared towards male clientele at one point in time. In reality, women and men tend to experience addiction differently in the first place.

Fortunately, an increasing amount of treatment programs (like those at Newport Beach Recovery) are starting to both recognize the problem and address it. While all people may benefit from gender-specific treatment, women, in particular, may experience higher success rates and greater life improvement in general.

It’s natural to have questions. But if you or a loved one are suffering from addiction, there’s no better time than now to find a treatment program that works. Here’s how gender-specific addiction treatment can be beneficial for women.

How Do Women Experience Addiction Differently?

To fully understand how gender-specific treatment works, it is important to realize the ways in which a person may experience addiction based on their gender. While on the surface it may not seem that gender plays much of a role in addiction, the truth is quite the contrary. In addition to many women not having easy access to addiction treatment, women also tend to be more hesitant to seek treatment in the first place. Because of women’s average lower body weight and naturally higher proportions of fatty tissue, women also tend to become addicted faster to substances and experience more severe effects.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, women also tend to relapse more often than men even after seeking treatment.

What Do the Statistics Say?

National data consistently demonstrates that gender plays an important role in addiction and recovery. In fact, a report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) recently showed that fewer women overall use substances, but they are more likely to use certain ones than men are. Specifically, far higher percentages of women than men tend to use opioids, prescription pain relievers, methamphetamine/amphetamine, heroin, cocaine, etc. than their male counterparts (who stick more to alcohol and marijuana).

It may also be because of these differences that women tend to relapse more often and experience more intense cravings. Though the studies here can be a little conflicting at times, the general consensus about women having a more difficult time staying sober remains the same.

Likewise, a study from DrugAbuse.gov shows that women use smaller amounts of substances for shorter periods of time before becoming addicted. Around 19.5 million U.S. women over the age of 18 use illicit substances in a single year alone. The same study also cited data from the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) that shows pregnant women who use drugs or alcohol are two to three times more likely to miscarry or deliver a stillborn baby. Meanwhile, those that are born to mothers who used substances during pregnancy are at a far higher risk of a wide variety of medical disorders.

What Exactly is Gender-Specific Treatment?

It’s crucial for successful addiction treatment programs to take into account the fact that drugs and alcohol tend to affect women more severely. And because women are at a higher risk of relapse, any program that is geared towards them must have a strong focus on preventing relapse. Gender-specific treatment goes far beyond the initial stages of detoxification and incorporates various physical and mental therapy methods to help with this.

More specifically, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism stipulates that a gender-specific treatment program (for any substance, not just alcohol) must meet the following criteria:

  • They seek to improve/provide care for women who seek help with their mental health
  • They refer women to specialized treatment for their specific addiction
  • They are aware of and identify certain groups of women who may benefit the most from gender-specific intervention and treatment
  • They take certain female-specific risk factors into account

How is the Right Gender-Specific Treatment Program Found?

Overcoming any kind of substance addiction is challenging regardless of gender. And just like men, women should carefully consider their treatment options before just jumping into the first program they find. That said, it is important to ask questions early on about what to expect while in treatment and how successful the program has been for others. And as far as gender-specific addiction treatment goes, it may be worthwhile to ask how many other women have been treated as well as how many women are on staff.

But it’s crucial not to wait. To learn more about gender-specific treatment, contact the experienced and caring professionals at Newport Beach Recovery today.