Rehab for Men: Specialized Drug and Alcohol Rehab Programs

Definition & Purpose of Gender-Specific Treatment

Gender specific treatment for men removes distractions that can arise when men associate with women. In the early days of recovery from substances, it is not uncommon for a person to substitute their substance use with other physical pleasures. 

Since the brain lacks the substances that used to provide euphoria, it naturally seeks to satisfy other cravings for pleasure. It may be food, sex, gambling or gaming. Many men erringly leave treatment prematurely due to these new habits that occur in early recovery.

Why Men Benefit From Single-Gender Care

Men are culturally conditioned to withhold personal feelings and experiences that may be related to core issues underlying substance use. A men’s only program creates safe spaces for guys to share deep hurts, fears and rage. Since addiction often creates isolation, men benefit from the comradery of other males who have the same problems.

Key Differences vs Co-Ed Rehab

Men are twice as likely to have a substance use disorder and are more apt to seek treatment, and gender specific programs are tailored to meet these work, home and other obligations. Men’s programs can address parenthood, high stress work, and the transition into adulthood or seniority. 

While the psychoeducational, therapeutic and medical modalities of treatment are similar for both genders, the therapeutic environment is different when the genders are separated.

Prevalence & Risk Factors for Substance Use in Men

Men are twice more likely than women to seek treatment, but they generally exhibit worse withdrawal symptoms from alcohol. Sustaining long term sobriety appears to be more successful for men due to extended peer support.

Common Drugs & Co-Occurring Disorders

Since more men start using drugs before puberty than women, they have a higher chance of developing mental health disorders. Men are less likely to seek mental health treatment for anxiety and depression, even though they’re more likely to attend a substance use treatment program.

However, this does not mean substance use causes mental health disorders. Some mental health issues are caused by substance use, while other mental health conditions existed prior to or separately from using. 

This is an important distinction when entering treatment because conditions such as schizoaffective disorder may be the reason a man started self-medicating that led to addiction, not the other way around. 

For instance, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is more often diagnosed in young men and is treated with amphetamines. However, the overuse of commonly prescribed amphetamines like Adderall and dexedrine can lead to dependency.

Self Assessment: Signs You May Need Treatment

Addiction is the consistent pursuit of a substance in spite of continued negative consequences. You may need treatment if you have consistently experienced legal problems due to drinking or using drugs, like DUIs. 

Another sign is that you’ve separated yourself from everyone who cares about you to hide your use or participate in high risk activities to obtain more of the substance. In short, your life can spiral out of control and you have tried to quit but can’t.

The best way to understand if you should attend a treatment program is by talking to professionals who can conduct an assessment indicating the needed level of care.

Medical detox is a brief inpatient stay in a hospital or clinic setting with 24/7 medical supervision of withdrawal and stabilization.

Medications are used to ease symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea and to prevent dehydration. In alcohol and benzodiazepine detox, it’s essential to have medical supervision as life threatening seizures may occur.

Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is a component of some treatment plans that may be inpatient or outpatient.

These programs use medication to reduce cravings, stabilize brain chemistry, and support long-term recovery from addiction. These programs help prevent relapse. They may begin inpatient and extend beyond into a long term outpatient treatment plan.

Residential/inpatient treatment often follows detox and extends for the first 25-45 days of recovery.

These programs offer a safe environment to learn to live without the substance in your system. They offer psychotherapy, education, recreational activities, coaching and peer support to foster a long-term recovery.

Partial hospitalization (PHP) further develops recovery skills as you integrate back into daily life.

This day program lasts 1 to 3 weeks with 4-6 hours per day of group therapy and activities to aid in developing recovery and life skills.

Intensive Outpatient programs offer 9 to 12 hours per week of group and individual therapy, usually three days for 3-4 hours.

Outpatient treatment is often the beginning of the aftercare process through meeting individually with a therapist or in a peer group. This is usually for 1 to 3 hours per week.

Sober Living & Aftercare is putting into practice daily life without drugs. Some sober houses are run by peers, or they can be part of an institutional aftercare program. These programs provide structure and discipline.

Aftercare can last as long as you want it to and can take many forms.

It generally involves a peer support program, sponsors, supportive family members, and ongoing mental health, medical or counseling treatment. The whole point of aftercare is to design a program that works personally as integration into daily life occurs.

Peer support programs are also available for children and spouses who have loved ones with substance use problems, such as Al-Anon (adult children of alcoholics), Alateen (teenage children of alcoholics) CoDA (codependency recovery).

Young adult & college age men’s programs focus on persons between 18 and 26 years old. This age group has the highest rate of use and treatment.

This developmental stage in a man’s life is critical to identity formation or, as Carl Jung taught, the age of individuation. College or trade school decisions fuel career choices, learning to manage finances and identity formation are crucial topics addressed in these programs.

Neuroscience evidence states that the brain is not fully developed until age 26. Young men who’ve misused substances since childhood may require intensive treatment to rectify the potential damage that have occurred with years of substance misuse.

Working professionals & executives’ programs for white collar professionals often target specific industries like airline pilots, doctors, nurses, lawyers and other fields of practice. Licensure boards send men to treatment before sanctioning, restricting or revoking their licenses. The stress of high profile work roles often lead men to substance use to “turn off the day.”

Veterans & first responders programs are designed to address the unique needs of this population, many of whom have experienced significant trauma in the course of their careers.

The Veterans Health Care Administration provides all levels of treatment for veterans struggling with substance use. Not all VAs have all levels, but they can refer you within their system to the proper level of treatment. 

PTSD treatment has evolved over the years to include not just combat veterans but also crisis environment workers, like first responders. These treatments are designed to address nightmares, flashbacks and other symptoms that lead men to substance misuse. Pharmacological treatment is also useful for the dual diagnosis of PTSD and a substance use disorder.

LGBTQ+ & inclusive men’s rehabs are designed to offer safe recovery spaces for gender nonconforming and non-binary persons and for members of the LGBTQIA+ community. The relationship between heterosexual men and the LGBTQIA+ male population remains strained in many societies. 

As a result, it has become essential that men feel included and accepted for who they are to experience recovery from substances. Programs for LGBTQIA+ are becoming more available and accessible, providing specific inclusion peer support programming.

Dual diagnosis treatment is essential for addressing both substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions.

The terms dual diagnosis and co-occurring disorders are often used interchangeably and refer to the presence of both a substance use disorder and at least one other mental health condition, such as depression, PTSD, or bipolar disorder.

With the merger of medical and mental health systems under the Affordable Care Act of 2010, dual diagnosis care has become an industry standard in substance use treatment.

Daily Schedule & Activities

Inpatient programs and PHP provide up to six hours a day of programming. Activities include individual and group therapy, psychoeducational groups, individual study, recreational activities, and peer support. 

Activities like yoga, meditation, equine therapy, aroma therapy, massage, art therapy, and sports or fitness are available at many facilities. These programs are generally available for men to select their preferences and designed to introduce recovery topics and design aftercare plans.

Length of Stay & Milestones

Length of stay in programming is determined by acuity of symptoms. Milestones in treatment include transitioning from a higher level of care, celebrating time frames of abstinence, the completion of a curriculum and other types of transitions.

Amenities, Privacy, Culture

Men’s treatment programs have a culture defined by the participants. It changes with every new person and when someone graduates or leaves prematurely. While facilities have policies, procedures and participation rules of conduct, the people are what create the culture.

HIPAA requires absolute privacy regarding the community’s participants. All men should be required to sign a privacy agreement upon admission.

There are many different types of settings for facilities. Ranches can emphasize hard work, interaction with animals, and emphasize outdoor experiences. Wilderness programs teach survival skills that can translate into identity formation. Some programs on the ocean include surfing and beach activities. Urban settings can develop life skills like using the bus system and developing resources.

Amenities are different in every environment of the facility. Some have gyms and fitness areas, cold plunges, massage and meditation rooms, aroma therapy, music therapy, and pet therapy.

Relapse Prevention Planning

Relapse prevention planning is an essential component of all treatment programs. This aids in developing a vision for what life will look like after treatment. How a man re-integrates into work, family, peer support and ongoing therapy is essential for leaving an intensive program.

Men will learn how to recognize triggers, develop coping strategies for stress and learn to use naloxone in the event of an opioid relapse. Relapse has become an accepted part of the recovery process.

FAQs About Faith-Based Addiction Treatment

If you’re ready to seek help for yourself or someone you love, you can call 988 for assistance in finding the care you need. Compassionate counselors are available just to talk through the decision making process. Your state and local departments of health also provide nearby resources for assistance in finding treatment.

You can also visit Rehab.com to find a qualified treatment provider in your area or call the helpline to be connected with a treatment provider that’s right for you. Don’t wait. Call now the number below.

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