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Women and Addiction

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Recent research has demonstrated that there are significant gender differences when it comes to addiction. Women’s bodies metabolize substances differently. Female addicts are more likely to have co-occurring disorders, such as depression, than males, and they are more likely to report sexual abuse in their past. Society is more judgmental of a woman addict, especially a mother, which can result in the addiction being hidden much longer or treatment never sought at all. Women sometimes can’t go into treatment, because they lack child care options. And a woman who does seek help may find herself at a disadvantage in a child custody dispute. This show is designed to shed light on some of the most common differences between men and women facing addiction with the goal of assisting afflicted women in knowing that they are not alone – that somebody understands - and that there IS help.

Episode Segments

Break the Chains: Women and Addiction


For decades, there\'s been a one-size-fits-all approach to treating women\'s addiction the same way we would treat men. But recent studies have shown that there are significant gender differences when it comes to addiction; psychologically, biological, and sociological. This week, we will pull the covers back on some long held misconceptions about women and addiction with our guests Twyla P. Wilson, LCSW , and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Linda Gingras.

Guest(s) Appearing on this Episode

Twyla Wilson

Twyla P. Wilson, LCSW is a psychotherapist in private practice. Drawing on the work of mentor Dr. Stephanie Covington, her practice emphasizes compassionate, holistic treatment of women with addictive disease. As a certified national trainer for Dr. Covington, Twyla trains professionals on gender-responsive, trauma-informed treatment for women. Prior to private practice, she was a faculty member at Duke University Medical Center in the Departments of Psychiatry and Social Work. At Duke, she started a women’s addiction treatment program. Twyla has a MSW from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and a BS in Family Relations from the University of Minnesota.

Linda Gingras

Linda Gingras is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and a board-certified alcohol and drug counselor (CADC II). She has extensive experience working with chemically dependent and dually diagnosed populations in both inpatient and outpatient settings, and also assists clients who are coping with a variety of emotional health issues. As the Director of Addiction and Prevention Services at Jewish Family Service in Los Angeles, she is responsible for coordinating and/or providing substance abuse services including prevention, assessment, treatment, education, and referral for chemically dependent clients and their families, program development, in-service training of staff, educational programs in schools, and community outreach. She is a currently the president of the Women’s Association for Addiction Treatment, a professional organization for women in the addiction field.

The Women’s Association for Addiction Treatment

Friday • March 20

CST 9:11 | EST 10:11 | MST 8:11 | PST 7:11 | GMT 6:11

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