Learn more about how addiction impacts women.
Statistics on Substance Use Disorders in Women
Source: SAMHSA
In 2022, among Female young adults aged 18 to 25, 37.0% used illicit drugs.
- 4.4 million women misused prescription pain medication.
- 388,000 women misused heroin.
Nearly all Females with a substance use disorder who did not get treatment at a specialty facility did not think they needed treatment.
In 2021, 3 in 10 (29.2%) Female adolescents had a Major Depressive Episode in the past year.
3 in 4 (76.5%) Female adolescents with MDE had severe impairment.
Among the 3.5 million Female adolescents in 2021 who had a past year MDE, nearly 60% did not receive treatment for depression in the past year.
Female adults were more likely to have mental illness than Male adults.
17.6% of Female adolescents had thoughts of suicide.
8.6% made a suicide plan.
4.8% attempted suicide.
Statistics on Children of Alcoholic Mothers
According to the National Association of Children of Alcoholics (NACOA), in 75% of cases, children of alcoholic mothers are unknowingly mistreated. Additionally, 73% of children whose predominant caregiver suffers from untreated alcoholism remain in the foster system until they’re 18 years old.
Often, factors like family and children can prevent a woman from getting the care that she deserves. The responsibility of the household often rests on her, and “mom shaming” can prevent her from putting herself and her recovery first. Financial constraints may also be a factor.
Unfortunately, the inability to be absent from the home can prevent women from admitting their need for proper addiction treatment for years. Realistically, however, active addiction will do far more harm to a woman’s family if left untreated. That’s why we offer treatment for mothers with children here at New Directions for Women.
Our Focus on Uplifting Families
At NDFW, we’re proud to be able to provide treatment that allows women to bring their children. We have a house specifically for our moms and children, and a daycare for our kiddos to attend during the day while mom is in programming. The addiction calls everyone in the family into relationship with it. As such, each member of the family, particularly the children, require a safe space to heal. We work with local organizations such as BizKids and California Family Institute to ensure that older kids get support and therapy too.
Our goal is to wrap around a mom with support, structure, and guidance to help her and her family recover. We know that helping women can inspire generational healing, because every woman who gets sober can change so many lives.
Why Should You Choose New Directions for Women?
Dealing with addiction is complicated. At New Directions, we understand the complications that come along with women and addiction. We believe each person deserves a chance to recover. Our mission is to provide treatment to any and all women seeking help from addiction. Please contact us today if you or a loved one is suffering from addiction. Though many women can benefit from treatment designed exclusively for women, the majority of treatment centers cater to either both genders or the male gender. This is likely because, throughout history, data on addiction has been largely based on the evaluations of men. In fact, it wasn’t until the early 1990s that women’s addiction began to be relevant in studies.
When these new gender-specific studies were released, it was concluded that more than 11% of males were addicts and 6.4% of females were addicts. Additionally, men were less likely to seek emergency medical care for an overdose. This resulted in an increase of addiction-related deaths in males, suggesting male substance abuse needed more attention. Women’s treatment centers lacked resources, likely because more focus was on providing addiction treatment for men, since more of them appeared to suffer from addiction.
Because treatment has been a male-dominated space, even dating back to early recovery support groups, many treatment facilities and curricula were designed by men for men. However, this leaves an enormous margin of women who don’t have proper treatment programs to meet their needs.
Luckily, drug and alcohol treatment in California has since gained popularity, thus allowing for more support and resources. At New Directions, we provide the key to helping independently treat addiction in women.
- Addiction Detox Services
- Residential Treatment
- Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)
- Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)
- Sober Living Residence
- A Holistic Approach to Treatment
- Mental Health and Addiction Therapies
The Benefits of a Women’s-Only Treatment Center
Men and women simply have different emotional and physical needs. This is due to societal gender standards and the biological differences between genders. While both women and men benefit from standard therapies like 12-step support group meetings, women require different education and support for complete health.
More often than not, addiction develops as an unhealthy means to cope with environmental factors. Women experience abuse and victimization at higher rates than men. Thus, it’s difficult for the needs of women to be heard in traditional treatment. Little research was performed on women’s needs for addiction treatment until the late 1970s and 80s. Still today, it is widely under-researched.
Prior to the 1970s and 80s, substance abuse was simply a binary process to treat addiction and help individuals maintain sobriety. Thus, little was known about the obstacles that women face that often cause them to relapse.
Sexual assault and abuse are now being recognized as major triggers for substance use and addiction. These needs must be taken into consideration for a women’s treatment center to administer effective care.
Trauma- Informed Addiction Treatment at Our Women’s Center
The relationship with addiction may precede, or be a result, of having experiences that are defined as traumatic. There are studies to support that women are assaulted at higher rates and undergo societal stress. Our therapists at New Directions for Women are trained to understand trauma, engage trauma therapy, and help you be curious about the effects that these experiences are having.
Gender-specific facilities offer women a safe space to explore these past experiences. Some of the memories are tender, triggered by men, or even have the experience of shame when recalled. NDFW helps reduce some of the barriers to process by having a women’s-only program. Working on these stories of resilience can take a lifetime. Here at NDFW, we hope to give you the tools, encouragement, and space to be curious that will allow you to start this valuable work.
Health and Aftercare at New Directions for Women’s Treatment in Orange County, CA
New Directions for Women’s alcohol treatment in California even offers a broad holistic approach to recovery. Besides traditional therapies, our clients here at New Directions can receive everything from meditation courses and trauma therapy to more contemporary forms of addiction therapy. Here at New Directions, we truly do place the health of women first during alcohol treatment.
New Directions for Women offers treatment programs in California that understand the importance of women’s health. We also offer an extensive list of other addiction treatment programs. On top of that, we offer the preparation of an aftercare plan. Treatment isn’t something that can just be completed and then forgotten about. At New Directions, we go above and beyond to cover and account for the extraordinary needs that make up sober wellness.
Treatment for Pregnant Women at New Directions
Here at New Directions for Women, we take a proactive role in meeting the needs of our clients’ children as well. Prenatal alcohol exposure can trigger a whole variety of disorders, including fetal alcohol syndrome. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that about 1 in 1,000 infants born are exposed to alcohol or drugs while in utero. The range between 0.2 and 1.5 cases of alcohol use by the mother has resulted in fetal alcohol syndrome. These findings of alcohol-dependent women in the U.S. further reinforce the need for specialized women’s treatment centers. Therefore, we provide assessments to identify the various issues that can appear within a baby during the pregnancy of a woman that’s struggled with addiction.
Pregnancy and childbirth are some of the most stressful events a woman can face in her lifetime. However, these can also be exciting times for which women can prepare. Women’s treatment centers, such as New Directions, are specially designed to create environments that will allow pregnant clients to experience a smooth transition into sober motherhood. Such alcohol treatment programs for pregnant women set a new standard for women’s treatment expectations.
Healing from Addiction Through Recovery
What will happen as you start to heal from addiction, discover your true gifts, and become the woman you were always meant to be? As soon as you walk onto our campus for a site visit, you’ll be wrapped up in love and compassion. When we look at you, we don’t see the self-hate, trauma, and shame you see in the mirror. We just see a woman fully deserving of recovery.
Within a couple of weeks, the “brain fog” will start to lift. You’ll be able to focus again, and your memory will improve. You’ll start to remember the things you love about your day, like playing with your children in the park, or laughing with your loved ones. You will start to find hobbies that inspire you, whether they’re artistic, intellectual, or spiritual. You’ll grow your self-confidence, and your loved ones will begin relating to you differently.
Your physical body will begin to heal. You won’t be carrying the weight of addiction with you, or the fear, anxiety, and trauma that you’re used to. The glow will come back into your skin. You’ll start to wake up excited for your day, speaking and thinking in a new language of recovery.
Can you imagine yourself:
Feeling free, in charge, and in control of your life?
Seeing new possibilities and options that never existed before arise?
Living your legacy and breaking the generational cycle of addiction for your children and grandchildren?
The world deserves the highest version of you. It’s not your fault that you became addicted to drugs or alcohol, and now it’s your responsibility to recover. We offer a full continuum of care, whether you need to physically detox from drugs and alcohol, live in a residential program with a sober community of women, or live at home and attend our outpatient program. You can enter any level of care, based on the severity of your substance use disorder. We are on this journey with our clients for the long haul, even as they become alumnae. For us, sobriety is a lifelong process. We are here to be your partner on the road to recovery.
Read our alumna Val’s testimonial, directly from her Yelp review:
Getting Help at New Directions for Women
If you’re a woman in need of California treatment in Orange County, receive it right here. The longer you wait to get the care that you need, the bigger an addiction can grow. Alcoholism or drug abuse can take over every area of your life if you continue to let it. Contact us now to reserve your spot at our women’s-only facility.
You no longer have to fear the stigma of treatment. You don’t have to feel threatened or alone. Women’s treatment centers like New Directions for Women have room for you. Get help getting sober in groups of women like you. The health of your family, or even your life, could depend on it. Take the second chance.
Frequently Asked Questions and Resources for Treatment
Does NDFW Offer Free Resources to Help My Loved One?
At New Directions For Women, we provide free substance abuse resources for you to learn from. These includes a list of the signs of addiction, quizzes to help understand whether you’re an alcoholic, and how to transition from a treatment facility back to your home.
Free and low-cost drug addiction resources are available for anyone struggling with addiction. New Directions For Women provides drug addiction resources like support groups, information on raising children amid addiction and domestic violence, and more.
How Can Family and Friends Serve as Resources During treatment?
As a family member or friend of someone in recovery, your support is crucial. Knowing they have someone in their corner can make all the difference to someone struggling with addiction. Loved ones can provide emotional support, encouragement, and understanding during the recovery process. If there’s someone in your life who’s struggling with addiction and they want help, you can:
- Offer to listen without giving advice
- Ask them if they want help getting into treatment
If they truly want help, reach out to us today. We can answer any questions you may have about the recovery process.
What Are Some Good Books or Reading Materials for Understanding Addiction and The Treatment Process?
- The Betty Ford Center’s Book of Answers
- Courage to Change – The Daily Al Anon Reader
- The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk
- In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts by Gabor Mate
- Woman of Substances by Jenny Valentish
How Can I Find Resources for Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)?
Medication-assisted treatment uses medications along with counseling and behavioral therapies to help someone recover from drug and alcohol addiction. Find out more about the Medication Assisted Treatment program offered at New Directions For Women to get a clearer picture of how MAT works.
Are There Resources at NDFW Available for the LGBTQ+ Community Facing Addiction Issues?
Yes. We offer a safe and supportive environment for all LGBTQ+ women seeking recovery. Our gender-specific programs ensure each client gets the unique treatment plan they need to recover.
