It’s not an uncommon scenario: a woman addicted to heroin realizes that she is pregnant. Unable to stop abusing heroin on her own and in fear for her baby’s life, mother seeks help from doctors. Because of the great deal of knowledge we now have about the nature of opiate addiction and its effects on the baby, doctors can easily help addicted mothers-to-be to switch from heroin addiction to methadone maintenance during their pregnancy and avoid the risk of overdose as well as limit the risk of miscarriage.

The problems start when baby is born addicted to methadone. This is a known factor when the mother is addicted to heroin or methadone throughout pregnancy and its one that is planned for. Babies generally stay in the hospital to make sure that they detox correctly and safe under the care of medical professionals.

In one case, however, the addicted newborn was released with her mother and this proved problematic. The mother was given methadone both for herself and for the baby and told to slowly wean the child off the drug over three months’ time. Unfortunately, mother didn’t follow doctor’s orders. She continued to give her baby the methadone – not maliciously, but because she wanted to ease her baby’s withdrawal symptoms – using portions of her own doses and keeping the child on the drug for 14 months total.

Despite her intent, it was still a dangerous thing to do. The mother has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and other mental health issues in addition to her long-time battle with heroin addiction, and that is being taken into consideration. She won’t go immediately to jail for her actions but because she admitted to a felony charge of reckless endangerment, she will spend five years on probation and will end up in prison if she doesn’t make better choices in the future – i.e., avoid heroin and other drugs of addiction, care well for her baby, and avoid engaging in any other criminal acts.

The mother also had her baby removed from her by social services. However, because she was so cooperative with her caseworkers and did everything asked of her including completing parenting classes, she now has supervised contact with her child and is moving closer to being able to regain custody.

If you are pregnant and heroin addiction is an issue for you, seek help immediately. Getting the drug treatment you need – including methadone maintenance – can save you and your child. Ready for serious heroin rehab? Contact us at The Orchid today to find out how we can help.

For many moms, the fight against drug addiction is paralleled by their fight to regain custody of the child or children they lost during active addiction. For Teen Mom star Jenelle Evans, it’s a struggle that she lives in front of the media. She lost custody of her son, Jace, to her mother in full view of the reality TV cameras, but now, she’s in marijuana addiction treatment and working hard to regain her sobriety as well as full custody of her little boy.

Hollywood Life eports that Jenelle says that treatment is helping her to get closer to becoming the mother that her son wants and deserves.

Jenelle told the magazine: “I’m doing everything in the right direction. I’ve learned how to control my anger.”

Recognizing Obstacles to Recovery

Some believe that one of Jenelle’s biggest problems is her choices in companionship. Her ex-boyfriend, Kieffer Delp, has been in and out of jail and some say that their relationship encouraged Jenelle to begin smoking marijuana in the first place and may have contributed to the development of her addiction. The hope is that she’ll make choices in future relationships that prioritize her son and minimize her chances of relapse.

This is a common problem among women in recovery. Boyfriends or partners who abuse drugs are one of the biggest reasons that women ultimately relapse and find themselves again in need of treatment – and in some cases, in front of a judge as well.

Fighting Obstacles to Custody

Women in recovery who are ready to regain custody may find that many in authority positions disagree. It may be necessary to prove to a judge, a case manager, or Child Protective Services (CPS) that you have secured and maintained a job that can support your child, that you have a home that will serve your child and be safe, and that you have adequate child care and transportation that makes sure that they always have access to the care that they need.

In Jenelle’s case, her mother, Barbara Evans, has full custody and reportedly doesn’t feel that her daughter is yet ready to take on the responsibility of full-time parenting.

She told Hollywood Life: “Jenelle continues to struggle with motherhood.”

But she went on to say: “I can never give up on my daughter, and it’s important to me that Jace has a close relationship with his mom.”

In the end, Jenelle’s success in regaining custody of Jace will come when she successfully fights marijuana addiction. Other mothers in the same position will find that their success is no more complicated than that.

If you would like to learn more about the drug rehab options we provide women here at The Orchid, contact us today for more information.

Things aren’t going so well for the former Miss Russia, Anna Malova: she recently found herself back in jail after being dismissed from a rehab for assaulting another patient in the program.

Malova was crowned Miss Russia back in 1998 and later moved to the United States. However, in 2010, Malova was faced 44 charges ranging from theft to forgery and illegal purchase and possession of illicit substances. She pled not guilty to all charges but was arrested again this spring and ultimately ended up incarcerated.

Bad Decisions = Criminal Charges

It seems that the alleged charges may be a result of a long standing issue with drugs and alcohol. Her attempt at a year-long drug and alcohol addiction treatment program were court-mandated and her inability to stay in the program due to an altercation with another patient s well as breaking a few other rules. Her initial 44 charges were pending based on her ability to complete the program. Unfortunately, her expulsion meant that she was not cleared of those charges. When she stands in front of the judge, she could be looking at up to seven years in prison – or she could be offered the chance to go back to rehab.

Second Chances

There are a number of reasons why a court-mandated drug rehab may not end happily for the patient and expulsion is one of them. People get thrown out for bringing drugs into the facility, for relapsing, for leaving the program, and for breaking other rules – like in the case of Miss Russia who reportedly assaulted another patient, read someone’s diary, and stole food from the refrigerator. Other than the assault, some of these rules may seem unimportant but they all help the patient build toward a life structured by respect for rules, respect for others, and a respect for self.

In some cases, the courts may offer second chances and, those who are lucky, will find that the rehabilitation center, too, is open to offering the patient a chance to return to the program. There may be a period where demonstrating commitment is required and certain limitations may be imposed, but if the ultimate result is sobriety – and avoiding incarceration – it’s well worth it.

Would you like to learn more about the recovery program options available at The Orchid? We offer a range of options for women ready to fight against drug and alcohol addiction. Call now for more information.

During active drug and alcohol addiction, the focus is on the addict. The risks, the health problems, the violent outbursts, the need to remain high or drunk, the constant search for more money to buy more drugs and alcohol, the mood swings – it’s all about the addict. Few think about those who live with and love the addicted person. Children, spouses, extended family, and siblings are all deeply wounded by the untreated drug dependence of the person they love – emotionally and often physically as well – and while the focus is on getting the addict the help they need to recover, few consider the needs of the family in terms of helping them recover from the experience as well.

How Families are Hurt by Addiction

Addiction is not just the problem of the person physically and psychologically dependent upon an illicit substance. Families, too, are victims of the disorder, for a number of reasons. Many end up experiencing:

• Domestic violence. In domestic violence cases, more than half of all those reported involve drug and alcohol abuse. How many go unreported?
• Emotional abuse. Emotional abuse is even more common as family members are forced to deal with the mood swings of their addicted loved one and rarely given the room to have their own emotional issues related to this and other problems.
• Financial problems. Addiction is expensive, and the damage and problems caused by that addiction can be expensive, too. Few addicts can maintain a job and contribute to the family finances; rather, the addicted family member usually costs the family more money than all other members combined, which puts undue financial pressure and stress on everyone else.
• Social isolation. Embarrassment caused by the addicted family members’ erratic behavior and the need to “cover up” those problems often means that the family is isolated from others – which often serves to increase their sense of dysfunctional addiction as normal and decrease their chances of healing.
• Health problems. Family members of addicts often forego their own mental and physical healthcare in service of dealing with their loved one’s addiction. As a result, many suffer from untreated mental health disorders like depression and chronic ailments that go undiagnosed.

What Families Need to Heal

Family therapy is one of the best ways to address the issues related to an addiction in the family. If the addicted family member refuses to attend or is at an inpatient treatment center, family members can find healing and support through 12-step meetings, personal therapy, and other group therapy options. Learning how to prioritize one’s own health is essential to make sure that, in the event of the relapse of the addicted family member, others in the family remain protected.

Contact us at The Orchid today to learn more about our woman-centered drug rehab program and how we emphasize family healing.

Stress and the holidays often go hand in hand. For those who struggle with drug and alcohol addiction, the triggers to relapse can be found on every corner. Here are just a few of the most common stressors to plague those in recovery during the holiday season:

• Family Gatherings. Family is stressful no matter what the context. Dealing with the interpersonal issues among other members of the family can be difficult and if those issues are your own, it can make even being in the same room with certain people during the holidays a difficult experience.
• Work Functions. Alcohol is all over holiday parties for work. Whether it’s the annual office party or dinners out with different clients, bottles of wine and spiked punch bowls in common – in many cases, other substances are passed around, as well. It can be hard to say “no” during a social gathering, especially if you feel that your job is on the line.
• Financial Stress. The holiday season is expensive. It’s not just about buying gifts, but supporting different charities and providing for those less fortunate, wearing the right clothes to different events and making sure that everything is as put together as it can be for guests or travel.
• Deadlines. You’ve got to get the decorations up on time; find, buy, and package Christmas presents so that they get where they’re going before the big day; pay off credit cards before the bill is overdue or the card is maxed out; manage your schedule so that you can get to all the right events – just worrying about the calendar is enough stress to make anyone want to relapse and forget about it all.

So how do you handle each of these unavoidable stressors and avoid relapse at the same time? Here are a few ideas:

• Go to 12-step meetings for emergency support.
• Enroll in outpatient addiction treatment to give you structure and accountability.
• Choose just a few events to attend.
• Avoid events that you feel may be too stressful, no matter who is disappointed by your choice.
• Take a sober friend with you to parties and social events.
• Do as much buying, planning, packaging, and shipping as you can ahead of time.
• Don’t be afraid to say “no” if you feel like you can’t handle a holiday request.

What are your suggestions for staying clean and sober during the holiday season? Leave us a comment below and share your thoughts.