How Drug and Alcohol Addiction Develop in Women
Not everyone who picks up a drink, is prescribed an addictive medication or experiments with cocaine, heroin, crystal meth or ecstasy will become addicted. So why is it that some who “pick up” drugs and alcohol develop an addiction that just can’t be put down without drug rehab? What are some of the factors that contribute to the development of drug and alcohol addiction and what specifically are women dealing with that leads them down the path of addiction?
Drug and Alcohol Addiction in Women: Environmental Factors
It sounds obvious, but accessibility is a key factor in the development of drug and alcohol addiction in women. If there is no ecstasy to be had, you can’t develop an ecstasy addiction, right? For women, some of the most common addictions include alcohol addiction and prescription painkiller addiction primarily for this reason: both are easily available to any woman who wants it. A bottle of liquor is only as far away as the corner store and a bottle of sedatives is as close as your doctor’s office. For this reason, access alone is a huge factor in the development of drug and alcohol addiction.
Drug and Alcohol Addiction in Women: Emotional and Personal Factors
Women especially tend to develop a drug and alcohol addiction as a result of personal or emotional factors. Things like poor self image, low self esteem, stress related to traumatic events (i.e., tragedy in the loss of a family member or friend, divorce, economic issues, etc) and depression lead many women to not only start using drugs and alcohol but continue to do so until addiction develops. Unfortunately, this process does little to abate the original issue, leaving many women with multiple problems to deal with.
Drug and Alcohol Addiction in Women: Physical Factors
Physical factors contribute heavily to the development of drug and alcohol addiction in women. Medical conditions that requires pain medication, a current addiction to another drug, excessive alcohol intake, genetic addiction in the family, fatigue or overwork, and obesity are all factors that have been found to significantly increase the chances of addiction. The thought of many would-be addicts is that their problem is too much to deal with; why not take a drink, a pill, a dose and just forget about it for awhile?
Accidental Addicts Versus Intentional Addicts
Few pick up a drink or try a drug thinking, “I think I’ll become an addict today.” Unfortunately, it doesn’t matter what you’re intentions were. Once your body is physically dependent on more of an addictive drug and your mind craves more and more and more of your favorite substance, it doesn’t matter how you got there. All that matters is that you take the next best step and get yourself out.
The safest and most effective way to do this is to choose drug rehab. Women have the benefit of drug rehab facilities designed specifically with their constitution and needs in mind. The Orchid offers assistance to those women who are ready to quit using drugs and alcohol, no matter how that addiction began. Call today for more information.