Addiction Treatment Programs for Men
Some research claims that men and women benefit in different ways from certain forms of behavioral and pharmacological treatments for substance use disorders.1
Additionally, traditional societal viewpoints have unfairly stigmatized men for seeming "weak" or for wanting to seek help for co-occurring mental health issues. Therefore, it can often benefit men and women to undergo certain parts of addiction treatment, such as group-therapy sessions, apart from one another.
Addiction can sometimes manifest differently in men than in women and they often have differing needs while in treatment. Gender-specific rehab programs can provide a solution to this problem.
This page will discuss the benefits of addiction treatment for men and answer questions regarding gender-specific addiction treatment.
How Does Addiction Affect Men Differently?
Many recent studies have focused on the negative effects and consequences that addiction has on women and not the unique challenges that men face when recovering from substance use disorders, nor benefits of gender-specific treatment for men. This may highlight the need for more conclusive recent research in men struggling with addiction and the specific ways it impacts them.1,3
However, some research has shown the following specific substance use issues in men:1,4,5,6
- Men are more likely to visit the ER due to illicit drug use than women.
- Men have an increased rate of overdose deaths due to illicit drug use.
- Negative medical, psychiatric, and functional consequences associated with addiction are often more severe in women.
- Men are more likely to use substances and engage in risky behaviors due to peer pressure.
- Generally speaking, men experience more symptoms of withdrawal from alcohol than women.
- However, men appear to be less likely to relapse and have longer periods of abstinence from substances than women.
Most research shows that men and women have comparable outcomes after they have received substance use treatment. However, factors that are related to relapse appear to be different. Women appear to be more sensitive to relapse contributors like trauma, physical and sexual abuse, negative emotions, and cues or triggers for resuming use than men are. Studies have shown that men in recovery also appear to receive more social support at home than women.5
A clinical review examined several studies that looked at the differences between men and women who received different interventions for substance use disorders. There were no gender differences with behavioral therapies for cocaine use disorder, but disulfiram, a medication used to treat certain substance use disorders, appeared to be more effective in men with cocaine use disorder than women. Men who are treated for alcohol use disorder with naltrexone appear to have poorer treatment outcomes than women. Naltrexone seemed to reduce alcohol’s stimulating effects more in women than in men.1
What Types of Drug & Alcohol Treatment Programs Are Available for Men?
There are different types of programs that provide drug rehab specifically for men. These programs offer different levels of care, that can include:7
- Detox, which helps men stop using drugs or alcohol and become medically stable so that they can enter a short-term or long-term residential treatment program.
- Inpatient treatment, or residential rehab, where men live onsite and receive different therapies to treat their addiction. This can be on a short-term (3–6 weeks) or long-term (6–12 months), depending on a man’s individual needs.
- Outpatient treatment, or outpatient rehab, where men live at home but travel to a rehab center to receive treatment on a regular basis.
Outpatient Addiction Treatment
Outpatient care is a viable option for many men with stable living environments and sober social support. There are several levels of outpatient treatment, including:
- Partial hospitalization programs (PHPs), which usually require patients to visit the facility 5 times a week for 6 hours a day.8
- Intensive outpatient programs (IOPs), which require patients to undergo treatment 3-5 times a week for a minimum of 9 hours a week.8
- Standard outpatient care, which allows more flexibility in scheduling. Clinicians may adjust the frequency of and duration of visits depending on the patient’s needs.
Are There Men-Only Rehab Centers?
Yes, there are gender-specific and male-only inpatient rehab centers and outpatient programs. People who may benefit from this type of program include those who prefer the company of their own gender during rehab, without the distraction of members of the opposite sex being present.
While most rehab centers treat men and women, it is common to separate them in group therapy sessions, especially during trauma-informed treatment.
Finding Rehab Facilities for Men
Many American Addiction Centers (AAC) provides gender-specific rehabilitation therapy sessions, as well as separate lodging for men and women at many of our drug rehabilitation centers across the United States.
AAC facilities are in-network with many major insurers and offer other payment options such as self-pay and financing.
To learn more about our programs, call one of our compassionate admissions navigators. They can answer your questions, verify your insurance, and help you begin treatment today.
Take Our Substance Use Self-Assessment
Take our free, 5-minute substance use self-assessment below if you think you or someone you love might be struggling with substance use. The evaluation consists of 11 yes or no questions that are intended to be used as an informational tool to assess the severity and probability of a substance use disorder. The test is free, confidential, and no personal information is needed to receive the result.
Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Men’s Rehab
