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Data have consistently shown that the rate of drug overdose deaths is significantly higher for men than women. In addition, data suggest that men are more likely than women to use almost all types of illicit drugs. June marks National Men’s Health Month, an opportunity to examine the prevalence of drug misuse and substance use disorders (SUDs) in men.

Impact on Mental Health

More information on sex and gender differences in alcohol use is available from the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). Support groups often experience the burden of a loved one’s addiction, but the influences from social networks and family structures can also be the cause of addiction. Detoxification is the most common method used in treatment resources in Iceland and in many other countries (Luty, 2003). Luty (2003) revealed that this method of sudden withdrawal is ineffective and that other methods would achieve more success in helping people to attain sobriety, such as motivational interviewing. All participants were given pseudonyms, and their identities kept from any of the data or reports related to the study.

Trauma-focused service is based on prevention, by screening for trauma and responding to the symptoms and consequences of those who have experienced trauma. It is important that the service is person centered and takes a holistic approach, looking into physical and mental factors as well as cultural and social aspects (Glennon et al., 2019; Rodríguez et al., 2019; Schäfer et al., 2018). When providing assistance to male clients, health-care professionals should evaluate their issues with regards to trauma. Failure to address traumatic experiences in the initial assessment can result in higher costs for the client and society as a whole (Greer et al., 2014). Drug abuse is a serious problem that adversely affects the health of consumers and can have irreversible consequences (Bryan, 2019; Fuchshuber et al., 2018).

1. Additionally, an individual’s gender can play a major role in their development, including their personality and abiding by social norms.
2. In the sixth step, the researchers grouped together the different themes portrayed in step five and constructed the phenomenon for each dialogue partner.
3. If an adolescent male convinces other male friends to experiment with drugs or alcohol, it could kickstart a pattern that eventually leads to drug misuse and addiction.
4. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals.
5. Participants were however all in agreement that their continued use had been as a result of their mental distress.
6. Our Friends and Family Portal is a great place to start for information and tips to help you navigate the recovery process with your loved one.

The Recovery Village® surveyed 400 people from all over the United States about the impact of their family’s history of addiction on their own substance use disorder. The participants were dissatisfied with the religious aspect in treatment, with one participant explaining that he would have had to completely alter his mindset for it to apply to him, in accordance with the study by Tonigan et al. (2002). Religion in treatment facilities is a debatable course of action as some might consider it insensitive and problematic with regard to cultural differences (Matamonasa-Bennet, 2015). Waiting lists were also mentioned as an obstacle, and there was a lack of information on resources after treatment. Individuals who perceive treatment options as unavailable to them tend to be left with inadequate treatment options, or as this study shows, no treatment at all (Valdez et al., 2018). Post-treatment care should encourage ongoing recovery and individuals often find it helpful to meet other people in similar post-treatment situations (Pulford et al., 2010).

Utilization of Research Findings

Sessions are recommended to be at least once a week for 12 weeks, with the option of prolonging this time frame for clients in need of resolving multiple issues (NICE, 2005). If you have a loved one who suffers from an addiction, now is the time to help them. The Recovery Village® has rehabilitation facilities in five states and provides numerous resources on how to communicate and help people close to you.

When substance abuse has developed into a desperate attempt at escaping distress, it appears obvious that the drugs have stopped being the main incentive for use. No one should be in a situation where they consider their only choices to be either numbing themselves into oblivion or taking their own lives. There were 134 respondents who said that they had struggled or currently struggle with an addiction to drugs or alcohol. Nearly 41% of the 175 males surveyed said that they had a substance use disorder in the past or have one now, compared to only 28.5% of the 225 females who took the survey. There were similar gender discrepancies when respondents were asked about which of their family members struggled with an addiction.

Around 54% of men who took our survey said that their family’s past with addiction led to their own substance use disorder. The traumatic experiences and alcohol and diabetes their effects will, according to Oliver, follow him for the rest of his life. He revealed that men of a certain age were considered a threat to him.

As cited in numerous reports, including one from The Telegraph in 2014, more males than females are addicted to harmful substances. The gap is large, too, as the report states that three times as many men are regular drug users than females. The participants mentioned that they found a few things lacking during their treatments.

Men died of overdose at 2-3 times greater a rate than women in the U.S. in 2020-2021

Childhood trauma can cause physical, biological, and mental health problems (Afifi et al., 2016; Agorastos et al., 2014; Cowell et al., 2015). Long-term effects of childhood trauma are various, for example, suicide attempts, personality disorders, depression, PTSD, and poor quality of life. In 2021, nearly 107,000 people died of a drug overdose, largely driven by potent, illicit fentanyl which now contaminates the drug supply.

There are several factors that may explain the difference, including family influence, peer pressure and propensity for risky behavior. In the midst of an opioid crisis in the United States, young adults 10 panel drug test ages 24 to 35 were hit hardest by deaths resulting from this drug class, and especially young males. According to a report in The Atlantic, men accounted for two-thirds of all opioid deaths in 2016.

Getting access to effective care is the first step toward recovery, and medication-assisted treatment has proven to be the gold standard for helping people with an SUD achieve successful outcomes. With a focus on interventions, such as trauma-informed care, that address both mental health issues and substance use disorders, health professionals can better address the complex nature of drug misuse among men and reduce the risk of overdose. It can provide the opportunity for disclosure, encouraging the individual to seek help and initiate their healing experience, and provide them with appropriate methods of treatment (Nillni et al., 2018; Sweeney et al., 2018). One method for trauma screening is the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) questionnaire, developed by Vincent Felitti and Robert Anda (Murphy et al., 2016).

Opinion on Treatment and Trauma-Focused Service

The high rate of occurrence of traumatic childhood experiences amongst all participants had not been anticipated. It was evident from the findings the importance for men to receive adequate psychological help for their traumatic experiences during their time in treatment. The participants had not found the available assistance to be sufficient in considering these factors, where addiction had been perceived to be the primary focus in treatment and no thought given to underlying causes such as traumatic experiences.

While researchers also found that men reported misusing drugs more than women, the magnitude of difference recorded for overdose mortality between men and women was substantially greater than the difference of reported drug misuse. For example, by comparing the data from CDC WONDER and NSDUH, the researchers found that men had a 2.8 greater rate of cocaine overdose mortality compared to women, though men only had a 1.9 greater rate of cocaine misuse dangers of snorting ambien zolpidem insufflation compared to women. Using drugs as a remedy for distress can develop into a habit, and after a certain period of time, the individual begins to feel as though they need the substances in order to cope with everyday life (Ertl et al., 2018). The participants spoke of getting rid of the distress, escaping reality, and that while they were high, life revolved around easier things, which is also consistent with previous findings (Ertl et al., 2018).

Children of parents who suffer from addiction often carry with them emotional burdens for much of their lives. Parents of children who misuse drugs or alcohol find similar struggles in trying to help their sons or daughters overcome the obstacles of addiction. Friends worry about their friends who have substance use disorders, and siblings can feel pain for their brothers or sisters who are misusing drugs or alcohol. It is not uncommon to hear of individuals or relatives who have lost their lives due to excessive drug abuse. Unfortunately, these tragedies occur as frequently in Iceland as elsewhere. Individuals resorting to substance abuse in order to improve their mental well-being is a sad realization, but it is imperative that steps be taken to better understand and assist those who see no alternative options.