The most frequent reasons given by women for discontinuing drug therapy sessions were the lack of child care and transportation. Lewis says often women not only care for young children but also are the primary caregivers for elderly parents or disabled husbands. And, if a woman is pregnant, most agencies will not treat her because of liability problems. It's ironic that just at the time when you'd think that we want women to stop abusing drugs, they can't get help. Other factors that can keep both men and women from receiving drug treatment include cost and availability.
Residential programs can costs thousands of dollars.
Lewis says women often find few places where they can seek treatment, and the agencies that are accessible to them usually have long waiting lists. Safety is another factor in getting to treatment centers.