Womenspace
T reatment FEMALE FOUNDED IN 1998 ADDICTION Recovery ----------------------
B ehavioral HEALTH
H omelessness
LEARN MORE ABOUT AND THE WE OFFER. WOMANSPACE SERVICES
WOMANSPACE
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rhd . org / program / womanspace - philadelphia
WOMANSPACE
Our Mission R HD’s mission is to provide caring, effective, and innovative services that empower people of all abilities as they work to achieve the highest level of independence possible and build better lives for themselves, their families and their communities Womanspace Philadelphia is involved in the Mayor’s homelessness initiative project and serves as the only female residential treatment program for dually diagnosed, chronically homeless women. Special components address drug/alcohol addiction, mental illness recovery, life skills, and parenting skills. Individual and group therapy is provided in an intimate home-like setting, with the ultimate objective being reintegration. Service Areas
• B ehavioral Health • A ddiction Recovery • H omelessness
rhd . org / program / womanspace - philadelphia
6400 Germantown Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19119 call 215-844-2400 visit
“It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.”
WOMANSPACE
ON INTEGRITY, COMMITMENT
W omanspace Philadelphia is involved in the Mayor’s homelessness initiative project and serves as the only female residential treatment program for dually diagnosed, chronically homeless women. Special components address drug/alcohol addiction, mental illness recovery, life skills, and parenting skills. Individual and group therapy is provided in an intimate home-like setting, with the ultimate objective being reintegration. WOMANSPACE PHILADELPHIA
Contact Us Toaday! 6400 Germantown Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19119 215-844-2400
Drinking during pregnancy presents parents with challenges beyond their own sobriety
Since its first diagnosis in 1973, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) have shown how devastating drinking during pregnancy can be for an unborn child. Despite this fact, at least one in 10 pregnant women drink in the U.S. every year, according to a recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC says children with FASD have physical issues like low birth weight and growth, problems with organ systems and damage to parts of the brain. These issues lead to behavioral and intellectual disabilities, hyperactivity, difficulty with attention, and poor communication, reasoning and judgment skills. The incurable situation can produce lifelong issues with school and social problems, mental health and substance abuse issues, difficulty keeping a job, living independently and having trouble with the law. In 2010, drinking while pregnant cost the U.S. $5.5 billion, says the CDC.
“ In 2010, drinking while pregnant cost the U.S. $5.5 billion. ” — Centers for Disease Control
“I don’t know how I’m going to tell her. It was something I could have prevented.” —mother of an FASD infant
Dysfunction in the family tree FASD can be multi-generational. Besides the common familial curse of addiction, the disability itself can contribute to bad impulse decisions, making it more likely for one to drink in the present moment and ignore the possible consequences. For that reason, a mother who has FASD herself may not recognize the symptoms of FASD in her child, because she views her own symptoms as normal. A mother in Tucson, Ariz., who was in recovery before realizing her drinking had caused FASD in her child, says the guilt was tremendous. Having to explain to her daughter why she had FASD was going to be the hardest thing she had ever done. “I don’t know how I’m going to tell her. It was something I could have prevented,” she says. Early diagnosis is key Diagnosing fetal alcohol syndrome can be difficult. A simple blood test will not suffice. Doctors typically look for abnormal facial features, such as a smooth fulcrum (the ridge most of us have between our nose and lips), lower than average height and weight, a small head and the birthmother’s admission of alcohol use during pregnancy. There are many treatment options, including medication for certain symptoms, behavioral therapies, education and training for parents. It is most helpful for children to be diagnosed before the age of six, be in a nurturing family environment and have access to special education and social services. Having FASD is not a hopeless situation. Implementing treatment strategies at a young age can help a child thrive despite the disorder.
Regardless, it is never too late to quit drinking. Since brain growth takes place throughout a woman’s pregnancy, the sooner a woman quits drinking, the better off her baby will be. Prevention is best To prevent FASD, the best scenario is for a woman to refrain from drinking any amount of alcohol during pregnancy. Ideally, women should quit drinking the moment they go off birth control. “About half of all pregnancies in the United States are unplanned, and even if planned, most women won’t know they are pregnant for the first month or so, when they might still be drinking,” says Anne Schuchat, principal deputy director at the CDC.
WOMANSPACE
6400 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19119
215-844-2400
WOMANSPACE
YOU ARE STRONGER THAN YOU THINK.
Call Us Today! 215-844-2400
6400 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19119
WOMANSPACE
6400 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19119
WOMANSPACE
• B ehavioral Health • A ddiction Recovery • H omelessness Service Areas
Call Us Today! 215-844-2400 rhd . org / program / womanspace - philadelphia
Integrated treatment works best for victims of sexual abuse who are also addicts. Researchers have found a dramatic link between the
“ 1 out of every
INSERT 4
occurrence of sexual abuse and substance abuse. According to alcoholrehab.com, “sexual abuse victims are three times more likely to suffer depression, six times more likely to suffer PTSD, 13 times more likely to abuse alcohol and 26 times more likely to abuse drugs than those who have not been sexually abused.” They go on to say that one out of every six women and one in 33 men in America have been the victim of sexual assault or
6 women and one in 33 men in America have been the victim of sexual assault or rape in their lifetime. ” -alcoholrehab.com
rape in their lifetime. Integrated treatment
Treatment centers are beginning to recognize the need for integrated treatment techniques for victims undergoing substance abuse recovery. Since there’s such a high prevalence of sexual abuse among addicts, integrated treatment offers a fuller recovery for sexual abuse victims. Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) is one common form of treatment. In CBT, individuals are offered psychoeducation, therapy instructing and empowering them to deal with their condition in an optimal way. Stress management tools are also helpful. Individuals can be taught to change their situations or their reactions and how to maintain appropriate personal boundaries. The regulation of emotions can be a challenge for a person who has been sexually abused. In CBT, clients learn what emotions are socially tolerable and they learn how to be flexible enough to permit some spontaneity. Survivors are also taught how to delay emotional reactions as necessary.
Individuals can be taught to change their situations or their reactions, and how to take good care of themselves.
Integrated treatment for those suffering from substance abuse addiction and sexual abuse greatly increases the chance that this person will remain sober for the long haul. They can also experience greater joy and healing than if they were treated for substance abuse alone. Those in recovery are also urged to write down leisure activities they find enjoyable and engage in those activities regularly. Clients are also encouraged to use journaling and inspirational reading to further grow in their recovery. Finally, having a supportive group of friends and family will help an individual recover emotionally from this kind of trauma. Telling their story One effective aspect of CBT is for the person to do a “trauma narrative.” In addition to telling their story by the spoken word or writing it down, they can also use drawing, painting or other art forms to communicate the trauma. The narrative can then be shared with a safe person, like a trained therapist or substance abuse counselor. The hope is that the survivor will be able to let go of some of the trauma. Healing can then take place. Another facet of CBT is behavior management training. Clients are encouraged to stay calm in an emotionally charged situation, manage their own responses, learn what limits are appropriate, handle challenging questions and learn how to prevent physical confrontations with others. According to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN), survivors are also encouraged to do what they can to heal themselves. Good sleep and nutrition, exercise, and regular routines like starting and ending the day in a peaceful way are a good place to start for people from this background.
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RHD’s Family House programs – operating in Philadelphia and Norristown – remains one of the few programs in the country that works with mothers and children together in a residential treatment setting.
Call Womanspace Today! 215-844-2400
6400 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19119
WOMANSPACE
GLOVES UP Let’s fight for your recovery together. Call Us Today! 215-844-2400 6400 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19119
WOMANSPACE
rhd . org / program / womanspace - philadelphia VISIT ONLINE:
6400 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19119
WOMANSPACE
R HD’s mission is to provide caring, effective, and innovative services that empower people of all abilities as they work to achieve the highest level of independence possible and build better lives for themselves, their families and their communities. W omanspace Philadelphia is involved in the Mayor’s homelessness initiative project and serves as the only female residential treatment program for dually diagnosed, chronically homeless women.
Call Us Today! 215-844-2400
BORN WITH IT Scientists Discover Possible 'Meth Gene’
Researchers have recently identified a gene that may play a role in meth addiction. New findings by Boston University School of Medicine researchers, published in PLOS Genetics, spotlight a gene called heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein H1 (Hn- rnph1). The research uncovered a link between this gene and how it effects behavior when stimulants are introduced. This new insight can help scientists understand genetic risk factors for addiction, along with some neuropsychiatric disorders. Also, this new understanding about how Hnrnph1 works could lead to the development of a prescription drug to help treat meth ad- diction, researchers say.
Need To Identify Targets
other findings to improve the treatment of both dopamine- related problems like attention- deficit hyperactivity disorder, schizophrenia, and bipolar disor- der, along with dopaminerelated neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson’s or Huntington’s diseases. Scientists say the genetic epide- miology of meth use disorders is very complex. Efforts to under- stand the biological processes that increase susceptibility to meth use disorders (i.e., abuse, dependence and psychosis) have uncovered several genetic variants. However, more research needs to be done. Though gene research can led to breakthroughs in treatment, Boston University points out in its news release that genetics alone are not responsible for addiction. Environmental and social factors also play an im- portant role.
The BU scientists discovered that Hnrnph1 “codes” for an RNA protein that regulates how other genes are processed in the brain. To better understand the genetic basis of meth addiction, the next step is to figure out the exact genetic targets of Hnrnph1. “A better understanding of the brain region and cell type-specific binding targets of Hnrnph1 will tell us more about the function of this gene and possibly identify new therapeutic strategies for minimizing risk and treating psycho-stimulant addiction — a disorder for which there is currently no FDA-approved drug,” says study co-author Dr. Camron Bryant in a news release from Boston University.
The study could also lead to
Other factors in addiction According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), these are some of the environmental factors that come into play with ad- diction: • Friends and people addicts spend time with • Age when a person begins using drugs or alcohol • Neighborhood
“A better understanding
of the brain region and
cell typespecific binding
targets of Hnrnph 1 will
tell us more about the
function of this gene.” — Dr. Camron Bryant, study co-author
• Availability of drugs and alcohol • Presence of mental health issues • Gender
These environmental influences interact with genetic factors to influ- ence an individual’s susceptibility to addiction. While scientists hope to better understand the role genetics plays in addiction to meth and other drugs, much more research needs to be done to solve the puzzle.
Genetics alone are not responsible for addiction. Environmental and social factors also play an important role.
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WOMANSPACE
Service Areas • B ehavioral Health • A ddiction Recovery • H omelessness
Call Us Today! 215-844-2400
6400 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19119
6400 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19119
WOMANSPACE
Service Areas • B ehavioral Health • A ddiction Recovery • H omelessness
Call Us Today! 215-844-2400
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