Promiscuous, depraved, irresponsible: Are these the images conjured up when you think about an alcohol- or drug-addicted woman? How about if she is pregnant, or a mother?

A tremendous social stigma is attached to the abuse of alcohol or drugs by women. Perhaps this is why children learn of their father’s alcoholism at approximately 12.6 years of age, while they typically learn of their mother’s alcoholism at 18.3 years of age. Perhaps this is why women enter substance abuse treatment at a much later stage than men. Shame and the fear of severe consequences often lead women and their families to minimize or deny the existence of a substance abuse problem.

The pathways that lead women to drug addiction are different from those of men, as are the pathways that lead women to recovery.

Historically, there has been a great scarcity of addiction research on women. The primary addiction treatment model used in the United States is based on studies of middle-aged, white males. In 1978, the courage and candor of first lady Betty Ford to publicly disclose her addiction to alcohol and other drugs sparked a surge of interest by research and treatment entities to examine the special needs of addicted women.

When we compare the lives and substance-use experiences of drug-addicted men and women, there are clear and important differences. Women are more likely than men to have experienced physical and-or sexual abuse. Women exhibit more depression and suicidal tendencies. Women are far more likely to have been separated from their parents early in their lives through divorce or death, to have experienced parental neglect, rejection, and-or violence in their families, and to have parents who are addicted.

Women entering treatment are more likely than men to remain responsible for their children. They will often postpone, decline or leave treatment if their relationship to their children is jeopardized. Unfortunately, women’s fears are frequently justified, since there often isn’t a safe partner, family member, or friend who can care for her children while she participates in residential treatment.

In examining the lives of addicted women, we find that many share two glaring life problems – the experience of trauma and the lack of healthy relationships. Healing from addiction requires that we immerse women in environments in which they can experience healthy relationships with staff and one another. Women entering treatment often come with a heavy burden of shame and a simmering mistrust of other women. The development of healthy connections with other women is crucial to their recovery. A recovery environment that specializes in the unique needs of women fosters healing and includes elements of physical and emotional safety, nonauthoritarian relationships with staff, and firm but respectful limits.

Clinicians and researchers continue to expand our understanding of the best way to help addicted women. Research has clearly indicated that treatment programs, which address women’s specific issues are more effective for women than traditional coed treatment programs, particularly in the early stages of recovery. We need more programs in Maine that are specifically geared to the unique and complex needs of women and their families.

Barbara Dacri is executive director of the Portland-based nonprofit agency Crossroads for Women, which provides residential and outpatient substance abuse services for women and their families. Learn more at www.crossroadsforwomen.org or by phoning 773-9931.