Essay on Substance Abuse Treatment Programs.
Women who struggle with substance abuse have unique challenges in recovery when compared to men. Women tend to be more involved with their families than men who are in recovery and can have strong family relations that fuel their addiction. This familial connection can make it harder for women to prioritize their own recovery. It is also problematic when their partner is also an addict. Often they come from a dysfunctional family that can be emotionally distant, noncommunicative and not supportive. These early experiences can contribute to unhealthy coping mechanisms and make it more difficult to build healthy relationships. Being pregnant as well as being a new mother can put a woman under intense stress and they may turn to unhealthy habits. The hormonal changes and physical demands of pregnancy and motherhood can exacerbate existing vulnerabilities.
A child living in a home with a mother who has an addiction is extremely dangerous. Exposure to substance abuse can have devastating and long-lasting effects on a child’s development. Helping mothers get clean is essential for every child. Babies that are born ‘exposed’ are experiencing neonatal abstinence syndrome. This condition occurs when a baby is born dependent on drugs, leading to withdrawal symptoms. This will cause the newborn to experience tremors, insomnia, sweating, fevers, seizures and a high pitched cry that cannot be consoled by normal means. The severity of these symptoms varies depending on the type and amount of drugs the mother used during pregnancy. The severity of the symptoms depends on the severity of drug use during pregnancy. Fortunately, with proper medical care, most babies with NAS recover fully. These symptoms usually last only a few weeks. However, the long-term effects of prenatal drug exposure can be significant. Many of these moms have feelings of guilt and shame for the things have done to their child. These feelings can be overwhelming and make it difficult for mothers to seek help.
Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) describes children who are born exposed to drugs and experience symptoms of withdrawal shortly after birth. It is a serious medical condition that requires specialized care. refers to cases in which newborns experience drug withdrawal shortly after birth. Early identification and treatment are crucial for minimizing the impact of NAS on a child’s health and development.
One major need is access to a drug treatment program and for the mothers to be able to take substitute medications such as methadone. Methadone maintenance therapy can help stabilize withdrawal symptoms and reduce cravings, making it easier for mothers to focus on recovery. Methadone will relieve the withdrawal symptoms and they will be prescribed a lesser and lesser does until they will be drug-free. The goal is to gradually taper off methadone until the mother is no longer dependent on it. The second major need is for them to receive support with medical care for their children as well as baby supplies such as diapers and a crib which are all provided through the program. This comprehensive support system can help mothers focus on their recovery and provide a stable and nurturing environment for their children.
What kind of services do they receive
LCFS’ Intact Family Recovery is different from other intact programs. It takes a holistic approach, addressing the needs of both the mother and the child. We partner with Chicago’s Rincon Family Services to provide support to mothers who are undergoing rehab for substance abuse. This collaboration ensures that mothers receive comprehensive care from a team of professionals. A mother is referred to the program after giving birth to a substance-exposed baby or having been reported to abuse or neglect due to substance abuse. The program aims to prevent further harm to children and support families in achieving lasting recovery. to provide support to children and families in which the mother is undergoing rehabilitation for substance abuse. Mothers are usually referred to the program by DCFS after giving birth to a substance-exposed infant or having neglected or abused her children due to her substance abuse.
Our program joins the child welfare with alcohol and other drug abuse treatment in a team effort to provide comprehensive services to families in the recovery process. This integrated approach recognizes that substance abuse is often intertwined with other challenges, such as poverty, mental health issues, and domestic violence. 18 to 24 months We have 3 phases. In phase one we prepare for treatment, arrange for childcare medical care, school assessment, and additional services. This initial phase focuses on stabilizing the family and addressing immediate needs. In stage two support the client during treatment strengthen parent skills to develop goals and aftercare plans. During this phase, mothers receive intensive support and guidance as they work towards recovery. In the third phase, we focus on maintaining recovery and continue developing skills and goals. The program provides ongoing support to help mothers sustain their recovery and build a brighter future for themselves and their children.
Our goals are to Ensuring the safety of the newborn child. Protecting the well-being of children is paramount. We Montinture the baby as well as other minor siblings and advocate for the family with schools doctors and other agencies This ensures that the child’s needs are met and that the family receives the necessary support.
Families who are in the intact program receive a variety of services. The program offers a comprehensive range of services tailored to the unique needs of each family. They have a case manager who monitors them to make sure they are keeping up with the program and assesses needs and connect them to services. A dedicated case manager provides individualized support and guidance throughout the recovery process. They are also connected with inpatient and outpatient drug treatment programs. This ensures that mothers have access to the appropriate level of care based on their individual needs. We provide counseling, refer to in and outpatient drug treatment programs. Counseling can help mothers address underlying issues that contribute to substance abuse and develop healthy coping mechanisms. We provide parental training as well as link clients to additional services such as support groups and food pantries. Support groups provide a safe and supportive environment for mothers to share their experiences and connect with others who understand their struggles. My favorite service is a thrift store where all items are free for clients. This resource helps alleviate financial stress and provides essential items for families in need. They have clothes, cribs, furniture and anything you could need.
How does the program work?
A caseworker helps the family create a plan for change. This collaborative approach empowers families to take an active role in their recovery. Issues such as domestic violence and mental health problems can create a chaotic home for the child if they are not corrected. Addressing these underlying issues is essential for creating a safe and stable environment for the child. We provide counseling, substance abuse treatment parenting classes as well as help those search for housing who need it. This comprehensive approach ensures that families receive the support they need to address all aspects of their lives.
For the first 45 days, the Intact Family worker makes visits at the home every week to provide services and do drops which are drug tests. Regular visits and drug testing help ensure that mothers are adhering to the program’s requirements and making progress in their recovery. The Intact worker works with other service providers to monitor attendance, receive progress reports to ensure the client is maintaining close contact with the service providers to monitor your attendance, obtain progress reports to ensure the client is benefiting and participating in services. This collaborative approach ensures that mothers receive comprehensive and coordinated care.
Next, the worker will make unannounced visits to ensure client cooperation and the visits may decrease depending on the assessment of risk for the children. The frequency of visits is adjusted based on the individual family’s needs and progress. The visits will be no less than twice per month. This ongoing support helps mothers stay on track and address any challenges that may arise. Once risk is reduced and safety is stable and maintainable the worker will discuss closing the case. The goal is to empower families to achieve lasting recovery and independence.
Intervention models utilized
The IFR model provides a variety of interventions. This flexible approach allows the program to tailor its services to the unique needs of each family. One of the most significant features of the model is a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) which fully disclosed the program and its conditions including the use of graduated sanctions such as protective orders, moderated community services for parents and the ultimate sanction of future screening for the temporary custody of children. This transparent and accountable approach helps ensure that families are held responsible for their actions while also providing opportunities for growth and change. The Recovery Coach Program (RCP) serves families in which children have been removed from the custody of one or both parents because of substance-related maltreatment. This specialized program focuses on reunification by providing intensive support and guidance to parents as they work towards regaining custody of their children. The goal of the RCP is to reunify families when the parents can provide a safe and drug-free home for their children. **The Illinois proposal is focused on keeping families together and helping parents start and maintain recovery so that they can be safe and effective parents for their children. **The model we have proposed pairs a recovery coordinator with an intact family services caseworker and embeds the recovery coordinator in the child welfare provider’s agency. This integrated approach ensures that families receive comprehensive and coordinated care. It also lengthens the time an intact family can be involved in services. This extended support helps families build a strong foundation for lasting recovery.
Suggestions
I have not found many problems with our current program however, one issue that I believe that is overlooked is assisting women who are pregnant and have a substance abuse problem. Early intervention is crucial for preventing harm to both the mother and the child. We do not intervene until the baby is already born. This reactive approach can have negative consequences for both the mother and the child. We need to provide services specifically targeted for pregnant mothers who want to avoid having an exposed baby. Prenatal substance abuse treatment programs can help mothers address their addiction and reduce the risk of harm to their unborn child.
I also believe that this program should be offered as a voluntary program for new mothers who are currently enrolled in other drug treatment programs. Expanding the program’s reach can help more mothers access the support they need. We need to connect and communicate with the drug treatment programs that we are utilizing and try and get them to offer the program to any mothers they are services regardless of the age of their children. Collaboration between different service providers is essential for ensuring that mothers receive comprehensive and coordinated care.
References
Koob, G. F. (2024). Alcohol use disorder treatment: Problems and solutions. Annual Review of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 64(1), 255-275.
Lappan, S. N., Brown, A. W., & Hendricks, P. S. (2020). Dropout rates of in‐person psychosocial substance use disorder treatments: a systematic review and meta‐analysis. Addiction, 115(2), 201-217.
Taylor, J. L., Wakeman, S. E., Walley, A. Y., & Kehoe, L. G. (2023). Substance use disorder bridge clinics: models, evidence, and future directions. Addiction Science & Clinical Practice, 18(1), 23.
