| Motherhood is one of the greatest and most | | | | "And since substance abuse is linked to |
| rewarding challenges that a woman can take on | | | | victimization and violence, it is critical |
| in her life. No one will deny that it's | | | | that the interacting chain of events be |
| extremely stressful - but some women cope | | | | interrupted." |
| with this stress through means that can | | | | |
| become addictive and destructive. | | | | Mothers who abuse drugs while pregnant can |
| | | | interfere with their children's cognitive |
| Years ago, the Rolling Stones had a hit with | | | | development, and often prove to have |
| "Mother's Little Helper," satirizing | | | | difficulties as caregivers even after |
| housewives who used pills to get through the | | | | reducing their drug use, according to the |
| day. However, addiction among mothers is no | | | | National Institute on Drug Abuse. |
| laughing matter, as seen on Oprah Winfrey's | | | | |
| talk show. In Utah, the number of women | | | | Is it possible for an addicted mother to get |
| admitted to treatment centers increased 144 | | | | clean? In 2005, Dr. Robert J. Ackerman, |
| percent between 2001 and 2002. And the | | | | Director of the Mid-Atlantic Addiction |
| "mother's little helpers" have gone from | | | | Training Institute, told a mother who'd been |
| prescription pills to more serious drugs - | | | | addicted to crystal meth for 12 years that |
| recent reports show an increasing number of | | | | "with the right treatment and support, the |
| suburban moms are addicted to crystal meth. | | | | answer is yes." Ackerman went on to explain |
| | | | that addicts need to find a new way to live. |
| The consequences of these addictions are, to | | | | "Often, addicts think the world is 'normal' |
| say the least, severe. According to a study | | | | when they are high and have difficulty |
| by the University of Buffalo Social Work | | | | handling every day life with out their |
| Facility, mothers tend to punish children | | | | drugs," Ackerman said. "Thus, becoming |
| more heavily when they have drug and alcohol | | | | 'normal' will take on an entirely different |
| problems. The study looked outside the range | | | | meaning in recovery for addicts." |
| of behavior that could be construed as child | | | | |
| abuse, demonstrating that mothers who drank | | | | For addicted mothers, it is possible to get |
| or tried drugs reacted more extremely to | | | | clean - but also to make sure that they're |
| situations involving their children's | | | | prepared to face the world that's waiting for |
| behavior, often relying on harsh language or | | | | them once they get clean. It's a situation |
| spankings as a way of dealing with their | | | | that requires both intense treatment and a |
| children while impaired. | | | | period of recovery to make sure that the |
| | | | treatment sticks. Staying off drugs is a |
| Many of these mothers came from families | | | | lifelong choice, one that affects not only a |
| where their own parents dealt with addiction. | | | | mother, but her children as well. A woman |
| "There is evidence that these victimization | | | | who's accepted the challenge of motherhood |
| histories may contribute to their alcohol- | | | | needs to be ready to face another, |
| and drug-abuse problems, which, in turn, | | | | equally-difficult challenge - protecting her |
| contribute to the style of punishment they | | | | mind and body for the sake of herself and her |
| use with their children," the study said. | | | | children. |