Drugs, Mothers, Kids and Ways To Cope

• NCJ Number: 160955
• Author(s): T Ooms; Herendeen
• Date Published: 1990
• Length: 43 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Health and Human Services; Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA)
• Corporate Author: American Assoc for Marriage and Family Therapy Research and Education Foundation
• Sale Source: American Assoc for Marriage and Family Therapy Research and Education Foundation
• Publication Type: Conference Material
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Family Impact Seminars with COFO Meeting Highlights and Background Briefing Report

Annotation

This report presents background information and summarizes a 1990 seminar focusing on research and trends in maternal use of crack cocaine and programs that are successfully treating these women and their families.

Abstract

Participants noted the scarcity of information about the characteristics of crack-using mothers, although they may be similar in many respects to those of women who abuse alcohol. Compared to male alcoholics, female alcoholics are more likely to experience severe financial problems, depression and other affective disorders, lower self-esteem, polydrug abuse, and physical abuse. Female alcoholics are stigmatized and more likely to be referred for psychiatric treatment than males. Crack cocaine use ranges from occasional to daily. The Families First program in Michigan assesses the level of use to plan appropriate treatment for the family. Occasional users receive instruction in a variety of coping skills. For weekly or continuous users, the focus of intervention changes to the safety and care of the child. Florida has developed new publicly funded problems for pregnant drug users. Participants noted ways the child welfare system could be improved to help deal with this new problem. Figure and 37 references