7 Things to Know about Alcohol Rehab for Women

While fewer women develop an addiction to alcohol than men, there is still a strong need for programs that feature quality alcohol rehab for women.  The following information acts as a primer for those women who think they may have a drinking problem, or the families who are concerned about one of their own.

Seven things to know about alcohol rehab for women

• Women develop drinking problems for different reasons than men.   Many women develop an addiction to alcohol because of physical or sexual abuse they have experienced during their lives.  Others drink to excess in order to escape mental health issues such as depression or poor self-image.  Others are involved in co-dependent relationships with an individual who has a drinking problem or a drug addiction.  Each of these factors is much more common in women who enter alcohol rehab than men.
• Women respond positively to alcohol rehab that is exclusively for women.  Repeatedly, studies have found that women respond much more positively to alcohol rehab programs that only admit other women.  The group dynamic and support structure that these programs provide women with a chance to share their common experiences and learn from one another in a structured setting.
• The major primary types of alcohol rehab are residential and outpatient.  The two most common forms of alcohol rehab for women are residential (in which the individual moves into a facility for an extended period of time in order to focus solely on their recovery) and outpatient (where a women attend rehab programming during the day, but then returns home to her family or a sober living facility in the evening).
• Alcohol rehab programs for women understand the special risks of women who drink.   Many women are afraid to enter alcohol rehab because they fear the impact it will have on their families.  Some are afraid of losing their spouse, while others may be single mothers who are concerned about losing custody of their children.
• Detox plays an important role in alcohol rehab.   The first crucial step in recovery is detox.  During alcohol detox, the woman will stop drinking and allow the toxins found in alcohol to leave her system.   Alcohol rehab cannot productively start until detox is complete because the chance of relapse is too high.
• A sober living home may be an ideal place for women to transition.  While making the transition from alcohol rehab back in to the “real world”, many women choose a sober living home.  In a sober living home for women, the individual and her children (if applicable) can live among other recovering addicts in a safe, co-op environment.
• The end of alcohol rehab is just the beginning of recovery.  When a woman completes alcohol rehab, her journey is just beginning. Staying sober means taking part in aftercare programs as well. This may include follow-up counseling and, if appropriate for her, Alcoholics Anonymous or other 12-step programs.  These are the “tune-ups” that will help keep her on track, and insure that she goes on to live a happy, fulfilling life one day at a time.

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