New Traditions

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Drug abuse continues to be a major public health issues across the nation. It is estimated that 4 million American and their families are impacted by drug use disorders and another 3 million by abuse or dependence on both illicit drugs and alcohol (SAMHSA, 2009). There are about 8% of the nation’s population aged 12 and older used an illicit drug in the past month, with about 8,000 new users of illicit drugs each day (SAMHSA, 2009). SAMHSA (2009) also reports that the prevalence of past-month illicit drug use among Americans in their 50s increased from 2.7% in 2002 to 4.6% in 2008. Only about 10% of substance abusers aged 12 and older in need of treatment receive care at a specialty substance abuse facility (SAMHSA, 2009). As the number of illicit drug use arises rapidly, drug treatment has already been …show more content…
New Traditions is a non-profit, sole women’s only chemical dependency treatment center in King County, serving low to no income women who are in need of chemical dependency treatment. Chemical dependency (CD) is a psychological and a physical need to use alcohol or other drugs that is not repressed even in the face of negative consequences. It is a chronic disease, and many factors such as genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors play its role with the development and manifestations of the disease. It can happen to any one, and a person who has developed a disease of chemical dependency will have it for life. CD is progressive, and the cumulative physical, emotional, and social problems associated with the disease will continue to get worse unless alcohol and/or drug use is stopped. Through research, New Traditions recognized that women’s needs in treatment are different than men’s, and therefore, the treatment program is tailored to address women’s particular needs such as providing on-site childcare, offering parenting