Men's Rehab: What to Know

Men-Only Rehab Programs

Research suggests that people struggling with drug and alcohol addiction may benefit from gender-specific treatment and interventions.¹ In fact, there are differences in the prevalence and development of substance use disorder between genders.

According to scientists, men are 1.9 to 2.2 times more likely to have substance use disorders; they are also more likely to seek treatment at an emergency room and experience fewer side effects of medication-assisted treatment.^1,2,3Additionally, men face fewer barriers to treatment, making them more likely to seek inpatient drug and alcohol rehab.⁴

What is Gender Specific Treatment?

Gender specific treatment is a drug and alcohol addiction treatment program designed specifically for men. These programs cater to men’s specific needs and characteristics of how they may have used substances and how they are likely to respond to treatment. Another great benefit of male-only treatment is that for heterosexual men they won’t be distracted by women and can focus on their recovery and building community among other men. See the section below for more information about the unique needs for men in addiction treatment.

How Do Substances Affect Men Differently?

Drug use and the effects of drug and alcohol differ among men and women. For instance, men are more likely to use illicit substances, experience overdose, and have higher rates of dependence on substances.^9,10 Other notable rehab differences for men, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, include:¹⁰

Males use more illicit substances than women, using higher amounts of heroin and being more likely to be an intravenous drug user.
The instance of co-occurring disorders, like major depression, or personality disorders, are higher among men with substance use disorder.
Marijuana and alcohol use is higher in men, with more men binge drinking than women.
Men experience twice the rate of substance dependence compared to women.
Men are more likely to experience less relapse and more sustained periods of recovery.

The Unique Needs of Rehab for Men

Male-only drug and alcohol treatment programs are unique in the following ways:

Only male-identified people may attend the program.
As men are more likely to need detox, rehab for men offers a full continuum of care from detox, inpatient rehab, to outpatient and sober living.⁸
Treatment is specific to the unique needs of men, such as:
- Tackling increased shame around seeking mental health support
- Increased emotional support resources which address the gender norm that men shouldn’t discuss their feelings, or that they should be independent and not need others¹³
- The prevalence of co-occurring disorders in men, like major depressive disorder, personality disorders, or PTSD^4,11,12
- Men may feel more willing to open up and risk being vulnerable if women are not present
- Programs for men address the fact men are more likely to inject heroin and experience overdose and therefore, focus on strengthening relapse prevention plans and enhancing coping strategies^5,6,7
- Men are more likely to experience anger problems than women which may get worse with drug use

Common Treatment Methods Used in Men’s Rehab

Common treatment methods and therapies used at men’s rehabs include:

Medication-assisted treatment (MAT), which involves the use of FDA-approved medications in combination with therapy for opioid and alcohol use disorders. Evidence shows that men are more likely to respond positively to MAT, and with less side effects than women.³
Individual and group therapy using evidence-based therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, dialectical behavioral therapy, couples counseling, contingency management, or community reinforcement strategies.
Peer support groups to build mutual-aid support.
Psychosocial education to promote stress reduction techniques and enhance coping strategies.
Skill building to enhance problem solving skills, promoting strategies to replace drug use with healthier alternatives, and a positive focus on how to improve relationships through communication, parenting, anger management, conflict resolution, and strengthening family bonds.
Enhanced relapse prevention planning to deter men from returning to use when they’ve completed the program.
Referral to sober living or outpatient programs.
Screening for co-occurring mental health disorders and physical conditions, like HIV, hepatitis, and other medical conditions.

Treating Co-occurring Disorders

Given the prevalence of substance use and other co-occurring disorders, it is important that men’s addiction treatment programs cater to those needs. Specifically, when looking for a treatment center, you should be assessing the treatment center to ensure:

They provide a comprehensive mental health assessment that screens for co-occurring disorders
They have masters-level clinicians with the expertise to handle dual-diagnosis patients
Evidence-based interventions and treatments are used by licensed professionals – a 12-step program is not designed to deal with mental health conditions
The treatment facility screens for drug dependence and has the medical capacity to cope with detox while prioritizing both comfort and safety. If detox is needed, you’ll want to check if it is a medical detox, medication is available, and that the facility has 24/7 medical staff with the expertise to handle detoxification and withdrawal.
There is a comprehensive treatment plan that includes therapeutic interventions, medication, access to a doctor, and thorough aftercare planning for both mental health and substance use disorder recovery.

Benefits of Men’s Drug & Alcohol Rehab

While men face fewer barriers to treatment and are more likely to attend treatment, you may still be unsure of why you should attend rehab for men. There are several benefits to attending a gender-specific addiction treatment center, including:

Developing strong bonds and social connectedness with other men which will serve as a support network after treatment, and improve mental health
Enhancing your ability to get vulnerable and talk about your feelings, problems, and emotions
Develop skills to manage strong emotions and stress and reduce the likelihood of turning to drugs to cope
Staff may also be male, and you may feel more comfortable opening up to a male professional than a female, or perhaps you may have been a survivor of domestic abuse and only feel safe talking to someone of the same sex
Men’s treatment facilities are more likely to understand your unique needs and tailor a program to meet those needs
You’ll be able to get help and support for other mental health conditions or problems, increasing your likelihood of sustained recovery
You won’t be distracted by women and are more likely to have a richer rehab experience
The facility should be better equipped to handle drug dependence and withdrawal

References

Polak, K., Haug, N. A., Drachenberg, H. E., & Svikis, D. S. (2015). Gender considerations in addiction: Implications for treatment. Current Treatment Options in Psychiatry, 2(3), 326–338. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40501-015-0054-5
Chen LY, Strain EC, Crum RM. (2013). Gender differences in substance abuse treatment and barriers to care among persons with substance use disorders with and without comorbid major depression. J Addict Med, 7(5):325–34.
King AC, Cao D, Zhang L, O’Malley SS. (2013). Naltrexone reduction of long-term smoking cessation weight gain in women but not men: a randomized controlled trial. Biol Psychiatry, 73, 924–30.
Green C. A. (2006). Gender and use of substance abuse treatment services. Alcohol research & health : the journal of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 29(1), 55–62.
National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2020). Substance use in women research report: Sex and gender differences in substance use. https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/substance-use-in-women/sex-gender-differences-in-substance-use
Green, P. (n.d.). Gender and use of substance abuse treatment services. https://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh291/55-62.htm
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2011). Gender differences in primary substance of abuse across age groups. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/sr077-gender-differences-2014.pdf
National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2018). Principles of drug addiction treatment: A research-based guide (third edition): types of treatment programs.https://nida.nih.gov/sites/default/files/675-principles-of-drug-addiction-treatment-a-research-based-guide-third-edition.pdf
Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. (2017). Results from the 2016 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Detailed Tables. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. (2016). Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS): 2004-2014. National Admissions to Substance Abuse Treatment Services. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/report/treatment-episode-data-set-teds-2014-national-disch
Becker, J. B., McClellan, M. L., & Reed, B. G. (2017). Sex differences, gender and addiction. Journal of Neuroscience Research, 95(1-2), 136–147.
National Institute of Mental Health. (2019). Men and Mental Health. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/men-and-mental-health
McKenzie, S. K., Collings, S., Jenkin, G., & River, J. (2018). Masculinity, Social Connectedness, and Mental Health: Men’s Diverse Patterns of Practice. American journal of men’s health, 12(5), 1247–1261. https://doi.org/10.1177/1557988318772732