In the United States, 31.9 million people use illegal drugs. Females, in turn, account for 17% of that number. Some of the most abused substances are opioids, meth, and prescription pain drugs.
Even worse, recent data showed that overdose deaths in females jumped in 2020. That’s especially true for Black women, who’ve seen a 144% increase in OD fatality rates from 2015 to 2020.
The good news is that a recovery center can help women with a substance use disorder before it’s too late.
This guide discusses the treatments offered in such facilities, so please read on.
Psychiatric Evaluation
About 9 million people in the US have a mental illness and an addiction disorder. In some cases, those with mental illnesses use substances as a coping mechanism. Conversely, some develop mental conditions due to their SUD.
Thus, you can expect a women’s treatment center to provide psychiatric evaluations. They allow the health care team to diagnose co-occurring disorders in a patient. They then use the results to create a patient-tailored treatment plan.
Supervised Detoxification
Detoxification (detox) removes drugs or alcohol from the body. How long it takes depends on the substance; it can be a few days or even weeks. Throughout that period, though, a patient may experience painful withdrawal symptoms.
If done unsupervised, such as at home, detoxification can put someone at a severe safety risk. For instance, during opioid withdrawal, a person may experience nausea, vomiting, and cramps. Moreover, those symptoms can last for four up to 20 days.
For that reason, it can be safer to seek supervised detox from a women’s recovery center. In this case, healthcare professionals monitor patients throughout the entire process. They can also provide medications that help reduce the severity of the symptoms.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT is a short-term but ongoing addiction recovery treatment approach. It involves helping patients recognize their destructive behaviors and negative thoughts. Therapists then help them address these issues with constructive behavior.
Research has shown that the skills patients learn in CBT stay with them even after therapy. That makes it one of the best treatments as it can help keep those who’ve recovered away from drugs.
Nutrition Therapy
Substance abuse can lead to a lack of adequate nutrition, such as in the case of stimulant abuse. After all, stimulants may act as appetite suppressants, resulting in diminished hunger.
Alcohol can also lead to malnutrition, as it may decrease dietary caloric intake. In addition, it can impair digestion and nutrient absorption.
The good news is that some women’s recovery centers offer nutrition therapies. These programs educate patients about healthier and mindful eating. Some also include healthy meals prepared by nutritionists.
Seek Help From a Recovery Center Today
As you can see, there are many ways that a women’s recovery center can help females recover from SUD. However, the journey to recovery can only start if one is willing to undergo treatment.
So if you or a loved one is ready to take your life back from SUD, please don’t hesitate to seek help today.
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