3 speakers, women & addiction

Hi everyone!

Yes, yes, see I've blogged this... :-) Today, I walked in late to my Black Studies class & everyone was watching a video on the struggles of recovering femal drug addicts and their integration into society after imprisonment. Integration, meaning reclaiming their children (if possible), obtaining treatment (if covered & affordable) and of staying free of drugs. Not only did we see the video, but 2 female ex addicts, Terry and Anita were there to share their stories and answer questions. Also, one of their counselors Julie, was there to answer questions and help us understand the stories of many of the women she sees.

After a pretty sleepless night, long commute, buttered bagel & bad coffee this was the last thing that I wanted to hear. I suppose on many levels I didn't want to hear about this because it was a real tear jerker and first hand experience that I couldn't deny. The upside was to hear that the women were clean and sober for a number of years. However, the ever more disturbing fact was that BOTH of them as MANY women who turn to drugs were molested as young girls. Anita, was molested at the age of 5 and became an alcoholic by the age of 9, she was constantly threatned by her step father that if she told, he would kill her entire family. She never told until she was 14 years old and tried to throw herself out of a 4 story building. Terry, grew up in the suburbs of the Midwest and came to NY at the age of 17, in pursuit of a better education. She was addicted to heroin for a number of years and spent many years in a "get high house." Anita suffers from bi polar disorder and is now able to get the medication that she needs. However, after years of drug addiction, molestation and incarceration (5 years) she is "better" as she is receiving the support that she needs. Tragically, because she was incarcerated, the state terminated her parental rights for her 3 daughters. The youngest one, she wouldn't recognize, if she saw her.

After the stories, the guests talked about how young women are triggered into addiction and the conditions they face while incarcerated. The number one answer that came up was MOLESTATION. The counselor, Julie, even predicts that as many as 90% of women who are incarcerated have been the victim of sexual molestation. Verbal abuse was another factor on women and their self-esteem & self-image. Mental health, as in the case of Anita, who has long suffered from multiple conditions, was also addressed. Oftentimes in ALL communities, ESPECIALLY POOR communities, we do not talk about mental health issues and sexual abuse issues, yet they are rampant! So not only are we not talking about these things, we are not providing the needed support to these people so they don't have to suffer a life of drugs and incarceration. If we are not discussing these issues in the home, you can guess that they are not discussed in prison...

At the end, I talked to one of my classmates, who is taking care of her sister's 3 children and couldn't help but breaking down and crying because she knows of the "system." Court delays, lack of money, she works part time and is in school full time. She has no children of her own, but has to bear this burden almost alone, of taking care of these 3 children, while trying to further her own education to have a better life.

If you've read this far :-) which I know you have... Please check out http://www.justiceworks.org/index.htm JusticeWorks Community is a not-for-profit agency based in Brooklyn, NY whose mission is to educate, organize and mobilize a partnership of concerned citizens and community residents and organizations to advocate for just, humane and effective criminal justice policies, emphasizing alternatives to incarceration for women with children.

There is so much to say about this topic & if I wrote like I thought... this post would be never ending... I hope that on the blog or via email you will share your thoughts!

Me