Background <p>Residential medium-term centers are among the treatment facilities available for women with substance use disorders in Iran. This qualitative study aimed to explore the lived experiences of women undergoing treatment for substance use disorders at residential medium-term rehabilitation centers in Sanandaj, the capital city of Kurdistan Province in western Iran.</p> Materials and methods <p>This qualitative study employed content analysis to explore the experiences of women undergoing residential treatment for substance use disorders. Seventeen women were purposively selected from a women-only rehabilitation center for participation in semi-structured interviews. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using qualitative content analysis.</p> Results <p>Data analysis revealed two main categories related to the participants’ experiences with substance use disorder treatment at residential medium-term care centers: (1) Inhibiting factors, including unsuitable family situations, economic hardship, structural barriers, physical and environmental obstacles, lack of continuity of care, and comorbid health conditions; and (2) Facilitating factors, such as a drug-free environment, a comprehensive treatment curriculum, peer support, and access to psychological services.</p> Conclusion <p>Based on the findings of this study, it can be concluded that various factors influence the recovery and rehabilitation process of women with substance use disorders. Overall, increasing awareness of these factors and designing interventions tailored to address them may contribute to improving quality of life and promoting sustained abstinence among these individuals.</p>