Women have been disproportionately impacted by the opioid epidemic through prescription pain killers (Capuzzi & Stauffer, 2020). This is due to women accounting for more chronic pain. Addiction happens quicker in female bodies, due to our endocrine differences. Women are more likely to have affective disorders before dependency. Social relationships have a bigger hand in addicting and maintaining addiction in women. Guilt and shame make entering treatment less likely (Capuzzi & Stauffer, 2020). Men are more likely to abuse substances when their testosterone imbalanced, which is associated with more aggressive behavior (Capuzzi & Stauffer, 2020). They are more likely to present with sociopathy, criminal and violent behaviors. Men more likely to engage with the legal system, be mandated to treatment, and receive social support for treatment. Men are likely to rely heavily on alcohol for socialization (Capuzzi & Stauffer, 2020). Treatment modalities created by men with treatment of men in mind may not be ideal for women (Capuzzi & Stauffer, 2020). The notion of giving up power in 12-step programs is not always useful; for women it may be a larger barrier that they do not feel they have enough personal power to change. Addressing women specific barriers to effective treatment. Women providers and women only groups can help women feel safer entering treatment. Alternative therapies like yoga and expressive arts therapy are suggested for treating women (Capuzzi & Stauffer, 2020). I know I personally have never felt comfortable enough to work with a male counselor. Men comprise a majority of addictions treatment programs (Capuzzi & Stauffer, 2020). Due to socialization, they are likely to struggle with emotional sharing early in the treatment program and may need more tangible invitations into the process such as homework before feeling safe to share (Capuzzi & Stauffer, 2020). Transgendered populations have not received the amount of research needed to guide treatment (Capuzzi & Stauffer, 2020). One may assume that the psychological aspects of the clients gender will apply, with the early socialization process having differences, while biological differences of their assigned sex may be at play and vary based on where an individual is in their transitioning process.

Response below discussion post with the below discussion topic.
Discussion topic: Before participating in this discussion:
Course Textbook: Capuzzi, D. & Stauffer, M.D. (2020). Foundations of Addictions Counseling, 4th edition. Boston: Pearson. (You can use https://b-ok.cc/book/17595540/be0f1d. for the textbook.)

Discussion post: Women have been disproportionately impacted by the opioid epidemic through prescription pain killers (Capuzzi & Stauffer, 2020). This is due to women accounting for more chronic pain. Addiction happens quicker in female bodies, due to our endocrine differences. Women are more likely to have affective disorders before dependency. Social relationships have a bigger hand in addicting and maintaining addiction in women. Guilt and shame make entering treatment less likely (Capuzzi & Stauffer, 2020).
Men are more likely to abuse substances when their testosterone imbalanced, which is associated with more aggressive behavior (Capuzzi & Stauffer, 2020). They are more likely to present with sociopathy, criminal and violent behaviors. Men more likely to engage with the legal system, be mandated to treatment, and receive social support for treatment. Men are likely to rely heavily on alcohol for socialization (Capuzzi & Stauffer, 2020).
Treatment modalities created by men with treatment of men in mind may not be ideal for women (Capuzzi & Stauffer, 2020). The notion of giving up power in 12-step programs is not always useful; for women it may be a larger barrier that they do not feel they have enough personal power to change. Addressing women specific barriers to effective treatment. Women providers and women only groups can help women feel safer entering treatment. Alternative therapies like yoga and expressive arts therapy are suggested for treating women (Capuzzi & Stauffer, 2020). I know I personally have never felt comfortable enough to work with a male counselor.
Men comprise a majority of addictions treatment programs (Capuzzi & Stauffer, 2020). Due to socialization, they are likely to struggle with emotional sharing early in the treatment program and may need more tangible invitations into the process such as homework before feeling safe to share (Capuzzi & Stauffer, 2020).
Transgendered populations have not received the amount of research needed to guide treatment (Capuzzi & Stauffer, 2020). One may assume that the psychological aspects of the clients gender will apply, with the early socialization process having differences, while biological differences of their assigned sex may be at play and vary based on where an individual is in their transitioning process.
Capuzzi, D. & Stauffer, M.D. (2020). Foundations of Addictions Counseling, 4th edition. Boston: Pearson.

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