Do Women Face Greater Stigma For Addiction?

Do Women Face Greater Stigma For Addiction?  

Anyone can develop a substance use disorder. Fortunately, some are able to break the habit and gain sobriety. They may face stigmatization because some people want to keep on associating them with their past. While men make up the highest percentage of people with SUDs, women tend to find it more challenging to quit drugs due to hormonal fluctuations. Despite the added struggles they still tend to be judged more harshly.

Why Do People Stigmatize Women More?

Society still tends to view women who use drugs or drink too much alcohol as lacking in morals or somehow being less than. Studies have compared reactions to women and men holding a drink: Impressions of the men remained the same whether they had water or beer, but when a woman had a beer in hand, she was seen in a less positive light.  

Women are expected to be compassionate, nurturing, and caring. She should focus on responsibilities such as tending to her husband, bearing children, and raising them. Drug or alcohol use is seen as a neglect of duties.

Women are judged more sternly for substance use, even if they’ve gone to a women’s addiction treatment center and achieved sobriety. 

Although society has embraced gender equality in many aspects, overall women seek out rehab far less frequently than men do. Some of that is due to stigma, but also because women may struggle with work, child care, and other obligations, and it’s simply too much to juggle. Also, women who are pregnant or caring for their children may fear they’ll have their children taken away, so they don’t seek help.

Unfortunately, addiction affects all genders, all ages, all walks of life, but think of someone who parties all night long with friends after a long day of work? Who comes to mind? A man or a woman? Mostly, it’s a man.

Society has somehow embraced that as a norm. Even when a woman has battled addiction, she may not feel comfortable discussing the issue for fear of being judged harshly. That’s why some choose to keep quiet about their past issues.

Unfortunately, some healthcare workers also stigmatize patients with substance use disorder. This can discourage a woman from seeking treatment, putting them at risk of developing health complications like heart disease or some cancers.

People with substance use disorders have been called all sorts of names, but instead of resorting to negative labels, society should accept that substance use is a legitimate illness, and show support rather than scorn for those in need of treatment. 

How Can Women Fight Addiction-Related Stigma?

If a woman constantly faces contempt for her substance use, they might develop lowered self-esteem. Unfortunately, they cannot control what others think about them. Seeking support can help a good deal:

• Acceptance. Accepting that they have an illness and that they need help -- possibly lifelong -- is beneficial. Liken it to another condition such as diabetes. A person is not diminished by the illness, but it will need to be managed with lifestyle and behavioral changes.

• Joining an addiction recovery group. This gives a person the chance to interact with people experiencing the same challenges. They can share what they go through and also learn from others. Since others are facing similar struggles this reduces feelings of isolation and fear of judgment. 

• Seeking treatment. Treatment can help in any number of ways, via safe detoxification, counseling, group therapy, holistic approaches, medication-assisted treatment, and more. Each person’s journey is unique, and a rehab facility should address individual needs and concerns as well as teach coping strategies to prevent relapse. 

Seeking treatment from a rehab facility with programs for women has several benefits. While there, a woman is more likely to find support and care from other women battling addiction. Causes, challenges, and other unique factors may be addressed more efficiently as well. 

***Written for Meridian Counseling by Patrick Bailey.

Patrick Bailey is a professional writer mainly in the fields of mental health, addiction, and living in recovery. He attempts to stay on top of the latest news in the addiction and the mental health world and enjoy writing about these topics to break the stigma associated with them.