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