Men

For many decades, the impact of addiction was only studied on men. Researchers focused exclusively on how drugs and alcohol affected men, and they were the only participants in the studies. This, unfortunately, led to a lot of medical bias against women facing addiction, but now in the past couple of decades, this has changed. Women are being studied within the context of addiction, which also helps researchers and treatment providers understand the differences between men who struggle with addiction. For example, men are more likely to misuse drugs or alcohol, but by contrast, women are more likely to go to the emergency department or experience a fatal overdose due to substance use.

There are biological differences as well as societal differences that lead to different addiction symptoms and outcomes between men and women. While there’s not one specific factor that leads to the development of an addiction to substances, many complex factors often affect one another. Some of the risk factors for addiction that may be unique to men include:

• Reduced perception of harm. Men are less likely to see drugs or alcohol as harmful compared to women. Men might see drinking heavily as something that’s normal, accepted in their peer group, or masculine.
• Men might have the desire to get approval from their male peers or be accepted to the point that they use substances more often than they would otherwise, putting them at risk for a substance use disorder.
• Compared to women, men are more likely to externalize their emotions and have a hard time processing them in healthy ways. When emotions are externalized, it can lead to impulsivity and aggression, and these behaviors are associated with higher rates of substance use disorders.
• From an early age, many men are taught that it’s “weak” to share their feelings or emotions, and they bottle them up and don’t learn healthy coping mechanisms. A lack of healthy coping mechanisms can be a major risk factor for the development of an addiction.
• There’s a link between having strong social support and connections and a reduced risk of addiction. Men are less likely to have strong friendships than women, so they could be more vulnerable to a substance use disorder.
• Men are often reluctant to seek help or treatment. Men will often think they can solve their problems on their own, so this can lead them to remain in denial until things become very problematic. Women tend to be more open to asking for help throughout all aspects of their lives, including with substance use.
• Co-occurring mental illness such as depression or anxiety is one of the primary contributors to addiction. Men are less likely to seek mental health treatment than women, so an untreated mental health disorder can lead to self-medication, which can become an addiction.
• For some men, substance use disorders stem from pain or injuries. If someone has an injury that isn’t healing or chronic pain, they might turn to substances to self-medicate.

At Liberty Wellness NJ, we provide men’s drug rehab in New Jersey that speaks to the unique needs of this population. We encourage you to contact our team if you’re looking for an evidence-based New Jersey men’s addiction treatment program.