Women, Meth, and Children
by Terri Hurst, MSW

Women are often overlooked when it comes to treatment for meth use, especially women with children. Women usually enter treatment through the criminal justice system and by that time, CPS (Child Protective Services) has intervened.

Women who are not allowed access to their children while in treatment have a greater likelihood of relapse and are not as successful in completing treatment. It is also important for children to remain connected to their mother, unless severe abuse has taken place. Just because a mom uses meth, it does not make her a "bad" mother.

With the prevalence of ice in Hawaii, many women have lost their children due to harsh laws that are not focused on keeping families together. This goes against the Hawaiian principle of "ohana" or family and the importance of family within the Hawaiian culture. While ice use is inter-generational in the islands, it is even more important that children of meth users see that their parents can recover from drug use and that parents teach their children about ice so that they can stop the cycle of use. Women's Way, which is located on the island of Oahu, is a residential treatment program run by the Salvation Army - Family Treatment Services. Women's Way is the only subtance abuse treatment program on the islands that works with women and children. The program targets women who are pregnant and using or who have children between the ages of 0 - 3 years of age. For more information, call: (808) 732-2802 x 39

In Utah, where meth rates are also extremely high for both men and women, there are two programs that work specifically with women and children. The Volunteers of America, Center for Women and Children works with women who have children aged 10 years and younger. The Program Director stated that "meth is the number one problem we see." For more information call: (801) 261-9177

Also, Valley Mental Health offers the Cottonwood Family Treatment Center, which is a residential treatment program geared specifically for meth use among women with children. For more information call: (801) 263-7225