Demetria Hill

COver A WORK IN PROGRESS MAGAZINE

hill cannady PHD, LPC, MAC, CCTP Demetria

Trauma & Addiction iN AFRICAN-AMERICAN Women willis Dr.Jeremy When it comes to our health, knowledge is power

CONSEQUENCES OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC FOR bLACK AMERICANS mental HEALth

abuse disorder & S ubstance MENTAL HEALTH RECOVEry in IN AFRICAN-american Youth

DEMETRIA HILL CANNADY

Table of C CONTENTS

DEMETRIA HILL CANNADY

Mental Health Consequences of the COVID-19 Pandemic for Black Americans

14 Goal Setting 18 Testimonal from Ilonda Clayton 30 Testimonial from Kim S 31

Substance Abuse Disorder & Mental Health Recover in African-American Youth

ABOUT US

DR. JEREMY WILLIS

The Role of Social Media in Furthering Black Progress

DEMETRIAHILLCANNADY.ORG

Contents

PEACE OF MIND DNA TESTING

A WORK IN PROGRESS

CHAIN OF CUSTODY DNA TESTING

TRAUMA & ADDICTION IN AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN

DEMETRIA HILL CANNADY

Demetriahillcannady.org

A WORK IN PROGRESS

601 N. ASHLEY ST, VALDOSTA, GA 31601

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478.227.7299

Demetria Hill Cannady PHD, LPC, MAC, CCTP , CPCS

Dr. Demetria Hill Cannady is the CEO of “A Work In Progress, LLC,” a private practice in Valdosta, Georgia which focuses on Mental Health, Substance Abuse, and Trauma. She is a Georgia Licensed Professional Counselor, Master Addictions Counselor, and a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional. Dr. Demetria grew up in poverty in rural South Georgia. She graduated from high school in 1991 and aspired to fulfill her dreams. Dr. Demetria left the single-parent home in which she was raised to attend college, graduated from college, and persevered over the years until she obtained a PhD in Human Services with a Specialization in Counseling Studies. Her niche consist of African American teenagers and women of all ages and stages. Furthermore, she provides individual and family counseling to men, women, and children in the areas of mental health, substance abuse, trauma, and premarital/marriage counseling. Dr. Demetria is an Empowerment Coach who focuses on a variety of women’s

"Dr. Demetria is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Empowerment Coach who focuses on a variety of women’s issues such as: self-esteem/ self-worth; relationships; single parent/blended families and family issues."

issues such as: self-esteem/ self-worth; relationships; single parent/blended families and family issues. Most issues can be resolved through counseling but requires communication; problem- solving; and goal setting.

Counselor and was certified through National Board of Certified Counselors. She holds a certification as a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional through the International Association of Trauma Professionals. She is also a facilitator

for the “Prepare Enrich” which is a Premarital/ Marriage Curriculum which focuses on enhancing new marriages and/ or repairing broken marriages. Dr. Demetria is a Certified Life Coach and obtained her certification through the Life Coach Institute in Pensacola, Florida. Dr. Demetria Hill Cannady is married to Garry Cannady with a blended family of three adult daughters and two biological sons together. In her spare time, she

Dr. Demetria Hill Cannady received her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work and her Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling from Fort Valley State University in Fort Valley, Georgia. Dr. Demetria holds a PhD in Human Services with a Specialization in Counseling Studies from Capella University in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She also holds Post-Certification in Contemporary Theory

in Addictive Behavior and College Teaching; both obtained through Capella University in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Dr. Demetria is a Master Addictions

enjoys helping others to set goals, create vision boards, crocheting, and playing Candy Crush.

“ Her niche consist of African American teenagers and women of all ages and stages. ”

“ Her niche consist of African American teenage girls and women of all ages and stages. ”

MENTAL HEALTH Consequences of the COVID-19 Pandemic for Black Americans P eople of color have been disproportionately affected by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. COVID-19 infection rates, hospitalizations, and deaths are 2 to 5 times greater in African American communities in the United States than in white populations. While the pandemic’s disproportionate physical health toll has been well documented, evidence on the pandemic’s mental health toll is scarce. On the one hand, COVID-19 has been viewed by

many as an all-too-common disease, wreaking havoc on communities, killing people, and inflicting financial and emotional hardship for people from all walks of life around the world. However, in the United States, African American communities have been particularly hit hard by both economic losses and mortality from COVID-19 due to legal, social and economic injustices across society, as well as gaps in physical health and access to adequate medical treatment. Intergenerational trauma and systematic racism that black Americans have experienced over the last 400 years have bred conditions that make this historically robust community vulnerable. Those without a safety net of money and family resources have lost health insurance, financial instability, food poverty, and housing as a result of the economic collapse and huge employment losses caused by the pandemic. Depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and suicide, as well as poor physical health, are all increased by these stresses and losses.

African Americans with mental illnesses are among the most vulnerable, including a higher likelihood of living in poverty, in densely populated areas, or being homeless or incarcerated. They face stigma and marginalization not only because of their mental illness, but also because of prejudice and discrimination based on race and class. The well-publicized and disturbing police brutality instances that have spurred emotionally charged national rallies and a national outcry against racism and injustice have added to the pandemic pressures.

“People of color have been disproportionately affected by the Coronavirus pandemic.”

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ABOUT US A Work in Progress EACH DAY THAT WE ARE ALIVE IS ANOTHER DAY TO GET IT RIGHT, JUST REMEMBER- WE ARE ALL “A WORK IN PROGRESS” DAILY. I believe that self-sufficiency is key to personal and professional success. I enjoy working with/ assisting individuals who are in the transitional phases of their lives. Treatment is individualized to the person receiving services. My theoretical approaches are Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), eclectic and holistic. I prefer to

“I believe that self- sufficiency is key to

personal and professioinal success.”

-DR. DEMETRIA

treat the “whole” person instead of pieces. By helping others to succeed regardless of our ages and stage in life, I succeed. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor who’s niche focuses on African American teens and women’s issues: trauma; self-esteem/ self-worth; relationships; single parent/ blended families and family issues. Most of our daily issues from the past or present can be resolved through counseling and/ or coaching; However, both require trust, honest communication, problem-

solving and goal setting. I am effective with this population because this is the population that am a part of and with which I can identify. I am able to work well with this population because most issues which my ideal client is experiencing/has experienced, myself, my friends and/or family have dealt with and overcame.

“EACH DAY THAT WE ARE ALIVE IS ANOTHER DAY TO GET IT RIGHT, JUST

REMEMBER- WE ARE ALL “A WORK IN PROGRESS” DAILY”

[ 2 6 ] MOORE & MOORE

S ubstance A buse D isorder & M ental H ealth R ecovery in A frican- A merican Y outh

F indings from the Institute of Medicine have shown minority youth have less access to, and lower quality of, behavioral health services. The reasons for this, like many racial disparities, stem from a combination of factors, including lack of insurance, lack of parental involvement, school oversight, geography and income level. Communities of color, due to decades of barriers in access to care, may be more tolerant of suffering and less likely to seek help or treatment. A study on help-seeking attitudes in behavioral health care found more negative attitudes among younger English-speaking Latinos and African Americans than non-Latino Whites. Additionally, communities with higher percentages of African-American and Latino residents are four times more likely than non-Latino White communities to have a shortage of healthcare providers, regardless of community income. On top of that, many African-Americans lack insurance. More than 60% of uninsured children are African- American or Latino. However, even in cases of equal insurance coverage, disparities still exist. In Tennessee, for example, more white youth than black youth used Medicaid substance abuse services. And in Maryland, African-American youths with Medicaid were less likely to be prescribed psychotropic medication. It could be that some of these disparities

“The majority of behavioral health services youth receive are recived either at school or at the request of school personnel.”

also lie in the school system. Schools are the first line for early detection of behavioral health problems.The majority of behavioral health services youth receive are received either at school or at the request of school personnel. In a cross-sectional sample of adolescents using school-based health clinics, half of the population serviced were minority youth (22% Black and 28% Latino). Unfortunately minority youth are often under-identified by their schools.

A F R I C A N - A M E R I C A N Y O U T H

Besides schools, parents are also the ones deciding to engage in treatment services for their children. But for many African- American youth, parental mental illness, substance abuse and number of children in the home are barriers to receiving behavioral health services. Additionally, parent perceptions of what is typical or appropriate behavior may influence their willingness to seek treatment and affect service disparities. Minority parents may be less likely to label symptoms as problems that need professional care or to medicalize problems. Adding to the uncertainty of seeking diagnosis could be comorbidity. African- Americans and the minority adolescents in substance abuse treatment programs are more likely to have cooccurring mental health diagnoses (e.g. depression or traumatic stress), even when factoring in family substance abuse, juvenile justice involvement and single-parent households.

Disparities exist even past access to treatment and through treatment completion as well. Evidence from the Treatment Episodes Data Set (2001– 2004) of over 73,000 adolescents showed significantly lower treatment completion rates among African Americans (33.5%) and Latinos (39.4%) compared to non- Latino Whites (45.1%). African Americans also spent 50% less time in treatment (mean 8.4 weeks for African Americans vs. 16.3 weeks for non-Latino Whites). This could be due to family conflict, lack of transportation or lack of preferred treatment methods. Matching treatment with patients’ needs is critical to ensure successful follow through of treatment and reduce post- treatment substance use. In a study of 1147 students, AfricanAmerican and other minority students more often preferred individual treatment sessions for secondary prevention of alcohol abuse compared to their White peers. This suggests that for such a vulnerable

Matching treatment with patients’ needs is critical to ensure successful follow through of treatment and reduce post- treatment substance abuse. experiences with treatment programs, racism, the legal system and oppression may affect the type of treatment they are willing to receive and adhere to. population, it is important to provide them with a safe space for disclosure and settings that reduce the likelihood of racism or stigma. Their previous

A WORK IN PROGRESS 601 N. ASHLEY ST, VALDOSTA, GA 31601

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Goal

G oal Setting: Everyone, regardless of age, should have goals, whether the goals are small personal goals or goals where the sky’s the limit. The importance of goal setting is that goals help to turn your dreams and visions into reality. Setting goals hold you accountable and are responsible for moving you forward into your destiny. Goal setting gives you permission to live, laugh, love, and paying it forward. Goal setting gives you focus and clarity for your future.

The Seven Key Areas of Goal Setting Are: 1. Lifestyles/Hobbies/Fun; 2. Jobs/Careers/Entrepreneurship;

3. Money/Finances; 4. Health & Wellness; 5. Family (Kin & Fictive Kin) and Relationships (Business & Personal); 6. Love/Romance; 7. Marriage; 8. and Personal Growth & Spirituality

Do you have established goals? Are your goals written down? Do you have start dates and completion dates written down for your goals? Are you ready to set goals? In addition to goal setting, vision boards are a nice working tool which can be utilized to help bring your goals into reality. Let me assist you into turning your goals and dreams into a reality by assisting you to formulate SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time- Sensitive) goals.

A WORK IN PROGRESS

Setting

Photo Gallery

The “Unmasking” & “My Strong Friend” Workshops

THERAPUTIC LIFE COACH CERTIFICATION

WHILE OBTAINING YOUR CERTIFICATION, YOU WILL: • HEAL YOUR INNER CHILD • BUILD SELF- CONFIDENCE • BUILD SELF-ESTEEM • COACHING VS. COUNSELING

CLASSES BEGIN: JUNE 27, 2022

Dr. Jeremy When It Comes to Our Health, Knowledge is A s a species we humans have had

a pretty tough run the last two years. We’ve been beaten, battered and bewildered by a global pandemic that’s proven both too fast to catch and/or too slippery to hold; seemingly one step ahead while we’re constantly two steps behind. In our desperate search for blessed relief we’ve generally uncovered more questions than answers and more problems than solutions. Reliable leadership has been lacking, and definitive direction in short supply. But we do have some real answers, we do have some solid solutions, and we do have some reliable leadership. Dr. Jeremy Willis, founder and CEO of Priority Toxicology Laboratories, is one of our dedicated medical professionals who has devoted his life and career to leading the fight in eliminating the uncertainty of our present, ensuring the sustained health of our future, and maintaining his personal commitment to education as a vital key as well as the primary direction to unlocking the promise of our next generation of leaders. Fascinated by the precision of science in general—and chemistry in particular—from an early age, young Dr. Willis applied himself to his earliest studies, going on to receive his PhD in organic chemistry from Tougaloo College before continuing his post-doctoral work at both the University of Florida and Emory University. This commitment to the rigors of scientific academia seamlessly dovetailed into generously sharing his gifts through education and mentoring, moving forward into teaching

in his chosen field of organic chemistry at renowned Moorehouse College. Following a decade of guiding young Moorehouse men and women to their most specific roadmaps of scientific success that began with terminal degrees of their own, Dr. Willis recently shared that his years of enriching and guiding young minds were among the most rewarding of his professional life. But of course his own family commitments multiplied through the years and his transition to the private sector eventually became both a professional necessity and a dream which need no longer remain deferred. Following in his father’s own entrepreneurial footsteps (himself head of his own construction company) in 2017 Dr. Willis created Priority Toxicology Labs to capably serve the growing needs of the greater Atlanta community with simple, clear and definitive direction- “Our goal is to help our community become more knowledgeable and ultimately be in control of their health.” And then just two years into his lab’s burgeoning success in that direction, the entire healthcare landscape changed dramatically. Whether we can consider it fortunate given our circumstances, Dr. Willis had nonetheless positioned his lab to be the rock which breaks the crashing waves of an ongoing healthcare catastrophe very few of us imagined possible. Continue on next page>>>

Willis Power

DR. JEREMY WILLIS

“When I consider the accuracy of results my lab produces, I always first think of my grandma as the one receiving our results.”

Continue Reading Reading ...

Transitioning smoothly from UTIs and DNA sequencing into the sudden and overwhelming necessity for Covid-19 testing, Priority Labs rapidly repositioned its capabilities to handle accurate testing results of up to 2K samples per day, with a reliable 24-hour turnaround time. One invaluable key at the time was the lab’s acquisition and use of ThermoFisher’s vital ORF testing equipment in March of 2020, in line with the CDC’s own simultaneous use of this vital technological resource. Always keeping his beloved grandparents in mind, Dr. Willis further explained his lab’s commitment to professional accuracy with his own unique and very human touch- “When I consider the accuracy of results my lab produces, I always first think of my grandma as the one receiving our results.” And Dr. Willis remains one of our most approachable and clearheaded healthcare advocates and instructors. When asked to best describe the most current need for community testing, vaccination and healthcare vigilance in the face of Covid’s latest variation, Dr. Willis shared this simple but crystal-clear guidance- “With a typical flu season vaccination, there is an actual small introduction of that virus included in the vaccine. But I want my community to think of the Covid vaccine and its boosters not as this type of introduction. Because it’s more of an ‘email’ to their body’s ‘spam folder’ which merely uses messenger RNA to simply ‘signal’ the body to any actual future introduction of this virus from outside. This is the key difference between the Covid vaccination and typical flu season shots.” Further simple, clear and effective direction includes- • Be Proactive, Not Reactive (don’t wait to get sick) • Get Tested • Get Vaccinated/Boosted • Knowledge is Power Although many now reasonably hope we’re seeing the light at the end of our long pandemic tunnel, Dr. Willis sees our future soberly if optimistically. He expects that we may all suffer some degree of ongoing PTSD-like symptoms after our long and stressful healthcare nightmare but that we’ll most likely be able to effectively deal with any and all future Covid variations much more in line with an average flu season run. And with men like Dr. Willis leading the way, we can all feel reassured that our refreshed path will lead us to a much brighter light.

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A WORK IN PROGRESS

Cultural Competency CHAMPIONS W hen Brooks Countain and

Washington Street High School Wildcat Alumni, Mr. William Hill mentions his daughter, Dr. Demetria Hill, PhD, his paternal pride is evident and when Dr. Demetria Hill Cannady, PhD, greets you in her cordial manner, she radiates charm coupled with professionalism. As Host for her Second Annual Music, Ministry and Mental Health Conference held on October 5, 2019, Dr. Demetria mediated a spectacular meeting featuring a diversified gathering of some of the regional

area’s celebrated mental health professionals and mentors who participated as presentation speakers and panelists. The theme for the conference, which also highlighted spiritual/gospel harmonious musicality, was “International Breakthrough 2019.: A palatable lunch was provided as a part of the festivities. The hosting doctor, who with superb organizational skill, assembled a cadre of

mental health professionals, ministers and mentors, holds a Doctor of Philosophy Degree (PhD), a Master of Arts in Counseling Degree (MAC), and is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). Dr. R. Marie Horne MD and Dr. Demetria Hill Cannady, PdD, are visualized in the PhotoOp during the Conference Lunch Interim. As a Licensed Professional Counselor, Dr. Hill Cannady is dedicated to her clients but It is also apparent that Dr. Demetria (“Doc Dee”), equally relishes her role of motherhood, as she enlisted the eager assistance of her affable son in distribution of conference materials and various other conference tasks during the five-hour festivity held in Valdosta. Dr. Demetria’s supportive Mom was on hand to assist her in the logistics and to render her own audience interactive response and participatory insight regarding discussion issues related to current mental health and spiritual topics. The focus of the Panel Discussion emphasized, “The Bridge Between Mental Health & Spirituality.”

601 N. ASHLEY ST Valdosta GA 31601 478.227.7299 demetriahillcannady.org

A WORK IN

PROGRESS

TESTIMONIAL

D r. Demetria Hill Cannady has an awesome formula for success and happiness -- positively charged thoughts, guidance, examples, plus an action planner for your personal goals. Dr.Hill Cannady takes time to make

you feel comfortable and encouraged in dealing with life’s challenging issues. She gives you the step by step guidelines needed to obtain and understand how to get that next level in life and achieve your hearts desires. This company is very

professional and a joy to work with. -Ilonda Clayton .

A WORK IN

PROGRESS

Y ou can be assured that I have found a stronger voice and advocate within myself because of our sessions together. I have notes from our sessions with wisdom that was provided by you to help me stay on course. Whenever I feel like giving up I still go back to those same notes. You do this with such compassion and respect for your

client’s vulnerability. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping me and for always being there for me. -Kim S.

The Role of Social Media in

For years, the use of social media has been on an exponential rise. A study from the Pew Research Center estimates more than 70% of adults in the U.S. are active users of social media plat- forms like Tik Tok, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. These out- lets have served as avenues for self-expression, unity and sharing of ideas. For Black people around the country, they have been a place to share resources and encourage Black progress and suc- cess. In May of last year, following the killing of George Floyd, Pew conducted an analysis of tweets and found nearly nine million posts contained the “BlackLivesMatter’’ hashtag in that month alone. The use of other hashtags supporting the movement also grew exponentially as investigations began for the cases of Bre- onna Taylor, Rayshard Brooks and Ahmaud Arbery. On June 2, well over 28 million pictures of black squares flooded social me- dia timelines. Many of them were posted solely with the hashtag “BlackoutTuesday.” The squares were intended to show gestures of solidarity for justice following the recent shootings and acts of police brutality.

As users follow people and accounts on social media, they tai- lor their experience to consuming content they consider relat- able, useful or inspirational. Posts about hair products for Black hair, Black-owned products and businesses, wealth and finan- cial advice, healthy relationships and awareness for racial justice events are among some of the widely-shared topics. Pew reported in 2020 that 55% of Black social media users between the ages of 18 and 49 posted at least one picture that year showing support of a cause related to racial justice and equality. The study also found that 60% of Black users interact with social media to find other people who share their views about important political or social issues, compared to 39% of white users. At a time when promotions are half the task of running a busi- ness, social media provides a space for free marketing with cre- ative strategies based on a company’s individual needs. In the world of social media, outside of sponsorships, creativity ranks higher than monetary resources, giving both Black and white businesses equal opportunities for exposure. As the resources for knowledge and financial assistance are often limited among

Furthering Black Progress

Black businesses, an active social media profile can provide some compensation for this disparity. A study from the Center for Media and Social Impact sug- gested these outlets help “level a media playing field dominated by pro-corporate, pro-government and anti-Black ideologies.” Advertising through these platforms allows for consistent expo- sure as users like, share and comment on posts without having to purchase products. Customers can also tag their favorite brands in their posts and stories, instantly bringing new eyes to these products. These platforms also serve as a hub of knowledge and ex- perience for people wanting to start businesses. Owners post Pew conducted an analysis of tweets and found nearly nine million posts contained the “BlackLivesMatter’’ hashtag in that month alone.

content, respond to direct messages and host live videos an- swering viewers’ questions about specific topics. This creates an accessible source of discussions and resources to address specific needs within the Black community from those with current experience. Just as social media has brought greater attention to world- wide protests and demonstrations around racial justice, a comparable amount of attention has been placed on the ex- cellence that thrives daily in Black communities. It provides people, especially the younger generation, with an outlet for expressing their identities that may be partially concealed throughout their everyday lives as they mix with a predomi- nantly white society. Pictures show fashion trends inspired by 90s Black culture. Videos show daily routines for wellness and fitness habits. And written posts and captions provide mo- tivational insights on approaching and living in the current political climate. This all exists alongside humorous posts that bring temporary relief from the stresses encountered through efforts for activism and awareness. 33

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HOLIDAY

Health Aspects of “Holiday Blues” H oliday “Blues” and Post-Holiday “Blues” as general entities encompass the conception that some individuals are temporarily inundated with prevalent changes in mood or behavior, or emotional vacillations and even changes in physical symptomatology manifested as a result of stress, fatigue, anxiety, loneliness, temporary despondency, overwhelming planning obligations for family celebrations, social obligations associated with holiday party activities, intensification of holiday commercialization with potential financial compromise, and a litany of other holiday “demands.” Depression during the holidays and a clinical entity designated as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) are clinical issues that have various etiologies and there are trained counselors/ mental health professionals who are available to give counseling and oversight clinical management on an individualized basis when the need arises. Dr. R. Marie Horne, MD and Dr.

BLUES

In the Context of Spirituality By Dr. R. Marie Horne MD Demetria Hill Cannady, PhD, joined by Alcohol and Addiction Counselor and Pastor Alfred A. Miller are visualized in Photo Op in the surrounding symposium environ in proximity to Dr. Hill Cannady’s private practice in mental health and counseling, who expounded upon differentiating aspects of seasonal affective disorder, the classification of depression

and its clinical manifestations, crucially significant statistical data referable to suicide occurrence and potentialities for suicidal ideations and the incidence of suicide in para-holiday periods and throughout the year. During the

Saturday Workshop Session, Dr. Demetria (Doctor “Dee”) defined seasonal affective disorder as transpiring when “you feel depressed when the seasons change, you may have seasonal affective disorder (SAD).” :This condition is marked by periods of depression followed by periods of normal or high mood the rest of the year.” Seasonal depression related to mood disorder which occurs commonly during this time of year is usually temporary but if depression persists or is severely exacerbated, interventional management is recommended and indicated. “SAD” is an acronym for Seasonal Affective Disorder.

Peace of Mind & DNA *** DNA testing is done by buccal swabs to the inside of both cheeks to ensure adequate DNA collection. ***Additional participants can be tested and included in the sample for an additional fee. Siblings. paternal aunts, uncles, and grandparents can be tested if the alleged father is unavailable or deceased.

PEACE OF MIND PATERNITY TESTING is the test choice for “need to know” purposes. These test can be done in the office or in the privacy of your home. If you desire to do this type of test yourself, you will be provided with instructions on how to complete the testing of the samples and a shipping label to send the sample to the DNA Diagnostics lab where testing of the samples occur. These test CAN’T be used for legal purposes. Test results available within 3-5 business days IF both participants (child and alleged father) samples are submitted at the same time. This type of testing is available through my testing facility for $300.

Demetriahillcannady.org

Chain of Custody TESTING

CHAIN OF CUSTODY PATERNITY TESTING is the test choice for individuals desiring DNA testing for LEGAL purposes. This type of testing is used for changing birth certificates, establishing paternity, child support purposes, divorce proceedings, custody battles, and/or any other legal matters which requires DNA testing. The results of this test is accompanied by a chain-of-custody stamp which is required for legal proceedings. These test are completed in the office and must be accompanied with a picture ID or identifying government issued

information which verifies your identity. In addition to, the facility will take a picture of the alleged father and the child to accompany the sample to be tested to the DNA Diagnostics lab. Test results available within 3-5 business days. This type of testing is available through my testing facility for $400.

For additional information and or to schedule an appointment, please call 478-227-7299 or send an email to Dhcann.09@gmaail.com.

T rauma & A ddiction in A frican- A merican W omen T rauma & A ddiction in A frican- W omen “AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN WITH ADDICTION PROBLEMS FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS.”

“Significantly more substance abusing women report being battered, experiencing homelessness and other traumatic events.”

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a u m a & A

d d i c t i o n 40

It’s clear that African-American Women with substance use disorder are underserved and under treated. The mortality rate for alcohol related deaths for African-American women has been reported to be under- served

between 2-4 times as high as the rate for white women.

T raditionally much of the research on substance abuse has focused on white men. Consequently, African-American women with addiction problems fall through the cracks. Yet the traumas these women, combined with lack of support, are often are the cause of addiction. In studies done on substance abuse in African-American women, significantly more substance abusing women report being battered, experiencing homelessness and other traumatic events. African-American

to the oppression of African-American programs has limited the effectiveness of recovery efforts for those in treatment (Saulnier, 1996). That is, of course, only relevant for those that make it to treatment. For the most part, poverty and social structures are barriers to psychological services and addiction recovery. Many treatment centers are costly, far away from urban inner cities and many African-American women lack the ability or resources to access them. Stigma contributes to lack of treatment as well. African-American women are often seen as the sole providers of the family, nurturers and caretakers. This creates a lot of pressure and stress to maintain the household, though, without relying on outside help. There is a correlation between African-American women who abuse substances and isolation and lack of social support. In fact, lack of community and social support is often one of the main factors for relapse. Spirituality plays a role as well, as spirituality is a key coping mechanism for many African-American women. Ones that report abusing substances, however, also reported less

U N D E R - S E R V E D

“African-American women with histories of

women with histories of substance abuse are more likely to report history of parental substance abuse and childhood abuse. Additionally, they also report less involvement in spiritual practices and less social support systems in their life, as well as more stressful life events, including incidents of racism.

substance abuse are more likely to report history of parental substance abuse and childhood abuse.”

For many African-American women, racism contributes to their alcohol and drug consumption, as they turn to drugs or alcohol to cope with incidents of racism, internalized racism, and the aftereffects of trauma. Treatment programs fail to address these factors. Lack of recognition and attention

involvement with the church and less spiritual practices. African-American women who are active and involved in a church have more disapproving attitudes of drug and alcohol use. For recovering African-American alcoholics, spirituality is an essential component to maintaining sobriety. It’s clear that African-American Women with substance use disorder are underserved and under treated. The mortality rate for alcohol related deaths for African-American women has been reported to be between 2-4 times as high as the rate for white women. More needs to be done to address and treat addiction in the African-American community and specifically, with African-American women.

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THE STRUGGLE YOU ARE IN TODAY IS DEVELOPING THE STRENGTH YOU NEED FOR TOMORROW A WORK IN PROGRESS

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