Why are there more men in rehab, and why same-gender socializing?

[Anonymous]

I seen that it’s more men than women in these places. I can’t buy addiction is a gender thing. Why is it there more dudes?

Also they are big on socializing with the same gender. Again, why’s that? I get it, with sponsorship, it should be the same gender. But why does it matter otherwise?

[kissmyring]

I think part of the reason men are more prone to addiction has to do with the whole “be a man” narrative that a lot of them are told from a young age. They’re not allowed to be vulnerable as showing weakness is distinctly unmanly, so they deal with their problems in their own way and sometimes that means turning to illicit substances as a form of escape or a kind of coping mechanism. Women don’t receive this narrative like men do, and usually turn to their community of support where vulnerability is more accepted and helped. I imagine male communities will do the same, given the opportunity, but so few men who fall into addiction are comfortable enough sharing their feelings that it doesn’t happen.

[Calyptomaniac]

I doubt there's a rule in rehab but if you're in NA, like presumably most of them would be, they say not to start any new relationship for a certain period of time so that's probably easiest done by avoiding the opposite gender as much as possible.

[slatyb]

Men with addictions tend to be more intentionally destructive, although they don't have a monopoly on it. I don't know if there are more male addicts, but I see a lot more male addicts on the street.

[slatyb]

Maybe they are socializing with the same gender because they've finally met men who can be supportive.

[Asker]

You got me there. Who knows

[LazerBean]

I agree that addiction is not a gender thing
However there are lots of different addictions, not all of which have a rehab, and many of them do tend to be gendered.

[DryGermanGuy]

I would argue that women are more functioning addicts, while men spiral out of control.