Substance abuse can affect anyone, regardless of gender.

However, men face unique challenges when it comes to drug and alcohol addiction. Some of these challenges stem from cultural norms or stereotypes about masculinity. Others stem from biological differences between genders. Regardless of why they may be more susceptible to substance abuse, men are just as likely to suffer consequences if they do not seek treatment.

A common link in men

From a young age many men deal with pressure from society to suppress or ignore their feelings, often being told to “man up” when they’re struggling their mental health. Often these pressures cause them to turn to drugs and drink to cope, which can leave them with a severe physical dependency if left untreated.

Men are also at greater risk for many health conditions associated with drug abuse. This may complicate recovery efforts and make it harder to identify substance abuse problems in the first place.

Biology plays a significant part in how drugs and alcohol affects both the body and the developing of addiction in the brain, due to the general body composition and size of men, they typically require more of a drug to get high. For example, it takes an average male around seven drinks to get drunk, compared to four for women.

Because of this, women are also much more likely than men to abuse substances. According to the Centers For Disease Control And Prevention (CDC), nearly 57% of adult women report drinking alcohol in the past month compared to only 49% of adult men. Women are also more likely to engage in binge drinking than men, with nearly 20% of women reporting they engaged in binge drinking in the previous month compared to just 14% of men. This pattern of excessive substance use directly contributes to the numbers of women who report having an alcohol or drug addiction, with 12% of adult women reported having an alcohol use disorder compared to 8% of men.

Getting help and recognizing addiction

The social pressure and stigmas that cause many men to resort to drug abuse or alcoholism can be extremely harmful; both physically and mentally. Fortunately, these stigmas have been reduced in recent years, making them easier for men to seek treatment without the fear of being labelled “weak” or “less of a man.”