Addiction can impact people very differently, including forms of substance abuse. There are a few theories or forms of research that dig into this realm, and one of these that speaks to the stages of substance abuse and the common gender-related differences in this area is known as the telescoping effect.
At Moonlight Mountain Recovery, we’re proud to offer a variety of alcohol and drug treatment programs, including both outpatient and inpatient rehab services. In many cases, recovery from addiction involves a greater understanding of what led to the issues in the first place, plus how those root causes can be identified and monitored in the future. With this in mind, here’s a primer on the telescoping effect in substance abuse areas — what it refers to, the factors that impact it, and how gender differences impact addiction among those who suffer from it.
Telescoping Effect Basics
To understand telescoping, you must first have a basic grasp of the typical progression of substance abuse disorders. These are forms of progressive diseases, and their “normal” stages are as follows:
- Initial exposure to a given substance
- Escalation into drug dependence
- Maintenance when recovery is attempted
- Withdrawal
- Relapse or continued use
While most people who suffer from substance abuse will follow this progression in some form, the speed at which this happens is not always the same — and this is where telescoping comes in. Telescoping refers to an accelerated progression from initial exposure to full-blown addiction, and it can be seen in both men and women. However, there are certain gender-related factors that can impact how telescoping manifests in each group.
Gender Differences in Telescoping
There are several gender-related differences that can impact the telescoping effect. For starters, women are more likely to seek help for addiction than men are. In fact, women are also more likely to seek help for other mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety. This can lead to earlier diagnosis and treatment of substance abuse disorders in women, which can in turn help to shorten the progression to full-blown addiction.
At the same time, women tend to have more severe physical, psychological and social difficulties than men, this despite having used less of a substance and for a shorter average duration. In fact, many researchers believe that the telescoping effect is more severe for women because they start with less of a tolerance and are more likely to experience significant physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms.
This is where the term “telescoping” comes from — a woman’s path to addiction is often compressed, or telescoped. Compared to men in very similar circumstances, women are more likely to progress from initial addiction to relapse in a very short time frame. This can be due to the progression being accelerated with these factors being condensed, making relapse happen much faster.
Factors Impacting Telescoping Gender Imbalances
For many years, researchers have been attempting to understand why the above is true. Why are women so much more susceptible to substance abuse telescoping than men?
While more research is still needed to know for sure, each of these factors has been identified:
- Co-occurring disorders: Women have significantly higher rates of co-occurring mood or anxiety disorders, such as depression or PTSD. As these disorders are themselves associated with increased risk of addiction and earlier relapses, the fact that women who suffer from them also have telescoping effects can be seen as another source of shorter times to full-blown addiction in this group.
- Biological differences: In addition, hormones may play a major role in how certain drugs impact behavior — and hormones differ widely between men and women. In some cases, the presence of hormones during certain periods can have a significant impact on how a person is affected by another substance that interacts with those hormones.
- Sociological differences: Women are much more likely than men to self-medicate for their own personal reasons, a major factor in the progression to addiction. They are also more likely to have adverse childhood experiences, such as physical or sexual abuse. These early traumas can set the stage for future addiction and telescoping. Men, on the other hand, are more likely to engage in risky substance abuse behaviors to fit in or be part of a social group.
- Addiction type: Men are more likely than women to use illegal drugs of all types, but women seem to be much more vulnerable to the reinforcing or reward effects found in certain addictive substances, such as cocaine and meth. They’re also more prone to cravings and addictive behaviors associated with prescription opiates like OxyContin.
- Treatment availability: Finally, one of the major factors impacting how women experience telescoping is access to appropriate treatment. In many cases, women must overcome significant barriers, such as childcare and work responsibilities, to seek help. And even when they do, treatment services that are gender-appropriate and responsive to the unique needs of women are often hard to find.
Treating Cases Individually
We wanted to close out today’s blog with an important disclaimer: While all the information we’ve been over above is important for understanding and studying substance abuse and addiction, each individual case is unique and deserves its own individualized approach. While the information above may be helpful in general, always discuss your options with a trusted medical or mental health professional for guidance on treating substance abuse within your own life, whether you are male or female.
If you or someone you love is struggling with substance abuse or other forms of addiction, contact the caring experts at Moonlight Mountain Recovery to learn about our rehabilitation programs.
