GROW (Guiding the Recovery of Women)

GROW (Guiding the Recovery of Women)

SANCA in co-operation with the Department of Social Development trained professionals to understand and implement the GROW curriculum.

Research on women and substance abuse high-lights the following:

· Women respond differently to treatment than men, particularly to programs designed for men

· Women abuse substances at different rates and for different motivations than men

· Women use different substances and for different reasons than men

· Gender responsiveness requires programs specifically geared to meet the needs of women, who experience substance abuse differently than men on many levels

· The programs must be culturally sensitive

· Intersection of gender expectations within culture are important to consider when adapting treatment program to different populations

· Programs must take into account family and children

· There are many risk factors and co-occurring disorders (e.g. a history of traumatic exposure) and consequences (interference with parenting) of substance abuse that are unique for women.

· Service barriers exist for women differently than for men. Substance abusing mothers also experience unique barriers to receiving the services they need to recover, such as absence of child care and lack of gender specific treatment in their communities. 

Women’s substance abuse is different with regard to the following:

· Addiction occurs more rapidly for women

· Frequently involves more than one mood-altering substance

· Produces serious medical consequences over a briefer period of time

· Women are more likely to have co-morbid psychiatric disorders

· Women are more likely to be victims of violence, physical abuse, domestic violence and rape

      - According to Mondanaro etal.(1982) 46% of all drug-dependent women have been victims of rape

      - 28% to 44% have been victims of incest

      - Studies indicate these percentages are significantly higher for incarcerated women.(80% have experienced

        some form of abuse)

Grow is designed to:

· Empower women

· Help her to trust and bond with other women

· When possible to strengthen a women’s relationship with her children and to reunify with her family

· Help women develop coping skills needed to build a productive and self-sufficient future. The  following skills are needed: parenting; controlling anger and stress (without chemicals); learning to identify personal cues of relapse; managing budgets and educational/vocational and non stereotyped job training.