Adult Men in Alaska

Drug addiction in Alaska is a problem that affects people across every demographic, but the individual effects of the problem can be felt very differently. Perhaps the most basic example of this is how men and women are prone to substance abuse, impacted by substance abuse, and treated in our centers for drug rehabilitation. The crossroads of gender and addiction reveal many facets of male and female psychology, and how drugs and alcohol derive their addictive power.

Addiction in Men versus Women

An area of difference between the genders that also overlaps into drug treatment is how men and women approach the subject of seeking help. Men tend not to self-report their substance abuse, or their need of treatment; the male gender is less likely to admit to mental health problems.

Women, on the other hand, are generally better at identifying problems and then taking the necessary steps to get help. Women may also be easier to convince to acknowledge a substance abuse problem, whereas a man might allow a belief in traditionally masculine ideals to even deny the existence of such a problem. This would have the effect of not only prolonging the addiction, but also adding further layers of stress, frustration, anger, and isolation on top of the preexisting mental health issues that contributed to the addiction.

The Importance of Different Approaches in Treatment for Men and Women

Men and women tend to have markedly different psyches, especially when addiction is a factor. As such, the psychology of treating a drug or alcohol problem will also have to be different when applied to men and women. Treatment should address the gender-based barriers that a particular client has erected; for example, a female client's desire for social inclusion should be examined, and a male client's reluctance to seek help will need to be deconstructed.

If there are any issues of gender that a client brings to the treatment table, a counselor should be aware of the various factors that inform whatever those issues are, in terms of upbringing, environment, and social attitudes, especially as they pertain to gender.

Similarly, other drug abuse centers have programs that cater to a specifically male clientele, to address concerns that male clients may not feel comfortable discussing in the presence of women. This may be the case if issues of sex, marital fidelity, or masculinity are at the heart of, or were affected by, the drug addiction. Group therapy sessions may be all-male, for example, or the entire rehabilitation facility may be for male clients only.

How such sessions are led may also speak to the differences between genders, and how the differences should be taken into consideration when plotting out treatment. Women's groups tend to be based more on nurturing and comforting a client's way to recovery; men's groups, on the other hand, can stress the virtues of strength and masculinity (or other male-oriented attributes) as a way to cast off the burden of substance abuse.

Getting Help

Insights into the male and female psyches can provide valuable tools to employ during the recovery process, helping clients address their addictions and mental health issues on a level that speaks to, and complements, their identities as men and women. If you are a man who is hooked on drugs, all you need do is reach out to any of the numerous centers in Alaska and get professional aid.