No matter how fantastic one’s parenting is, there’s always a chance that their child could become a victim of addiction. It doesn’t mean one has failed as a parent, but it does mean that it might be time for the parents to step in and help. It’s what us parents are here for.
What you may not be aware of is that having a daughter struggling with addiction can be a unique experience from that of having a son with the same struggle. Here are some things you should know about this situation:
1. Females are More Likely to Misuse Opioids
While pain tolerance varies from person to person, statistics show that females are usually more sensitive to pain than males. Women may also experience pain more often than men (e.g., menstruation).
For the latter reasons, this is why it’s believed that women are more likely to abuse opioids or narcotics, whether prescription or otherwise, than men. Signs of opioid addiction include shallow breathing, extreme mood swings, drowsiness, and lack of motivation. Drugs under this category can be very serious and deadly. Thus, the need to act quickly is a must.
2. Women Transition from Substance Abuse to Addiction Quicker Than Men
Males are more likely to experiment with drugs and become addicted. However, a distinct difference between males and females is that women tend to transition quicker from drug use, to substance abuse, to substance reliance, to full-on addiction.
3. Overdose Death from Opioids is More Common in Women
Because women are more likely to transition quicker from the initial stage of drug use through the stage of drug addiction, they are also more likely to experience death from an overdose of opioids than their male counterparts. Hence, females may need to get into a substance addiction treatment program sooner.
4. Women May Experience Greater Highs and Side Effects Than Men
When they have taken their choice of drug, females are more likely to have stronger highs (and the signs of the highs will often be more apparent). Additionally, they may experience more side effects from addiction such as liver damage or kidney failure.
5. Relapse is Higher for Females Than Males
While recovery is completely possible for anyone, another interesting fact is that females tend to have a higher relapse ratethan males when it comes to addiction. They tend to have stronger cravings and side effects after halting their choice of drug.
While the latter may be scary to hear, the good news is that females are more likely than men to seek, and be less opposed to, professional help for addiction.
Do you have a daughter or other female loved one who is struggling with addiction? It may be time to start looking for addiction treatment for women in Orange County.
Conclusion
Addiction varies from one person to the next. However, the latter statistics suggest that addiction in males is often different from addiction in females. The previous key facts help make it apparent that females may suffer differently and require a different level of help when dealing with addiction when compared to their male counterparts.