Gender Specific Drug and Alcohol Treatment

The National Institute on Drug Abuse says evidence shows men and women require different prevention and treatment approaches. Pacific Hills endorses these findings by providing gender-specific treatment that emphasizes the biological, psychological, social and spiritual factors that influence an individual's substance abuse.

Because perspectives differ between men and women, gender-specific therapy is based on a prevention and treatment approach that builds on either men's or women's experiences, including health and relational perspectives. By doing so, we address the issues that are unique to each sex and treat them accordingly. For example, men generally get support for seeking treatment while women are discouraged to do so (usually by family members) due to guilt, shame and anxiety. Women tend to exhibit lower levels of self-esteem and higher levels of depression than men. Therefore, our women's program helps women identify and build on their strengths rather than their deficits. The men's program focuses on issues unique to their needs.

Both programs include a defined set of activities that address the symptoms and root causes of addictions, and the abusers are taught new ways to manage their lives without alcohol and drugs. These activities include education, group support, therapy and, occasionally, medication.

Testimonials

"The staff we have here is incredible. We have people here who have been here since the beginning and that is very unusual in this line of business. It's a very tumultuous type of business but we have very committed clinicians and counselors that believe in what we are doing. They understand that we are unique here."

Richard