Treatment center focuses on expectant mothers abusing drugs

LOUISVILLE, KY. (WDRB) -- Pain pill addiction is a growing problem, even among pregnant women. There's a unique treatment center in Louisville focused on detoxing expectant mothers.

On the outside, it looks like any other building in downtown Louisville. But on the inside, it is a help center like no other. Amanda Newton of the Jefferson Alcohol and Drug Abuse Center, or JADAC, explains, "This is an 80-bed facility, so we do three levels of treatment, inpatient that's detox, rehab, and residential."

There's only one other treatment center in Kentucky like that one. Newton says the center is equipped to detox pregnant women addicted to drugs or alcohol.

Counselor Karen Hagan says, "Right now we are seeing an increase with the opiates." That's mainly prescription drugs, but Hagan says with the new tighter restrictions on prescription drugs, another powerful substance is making a dangerous comeback with pregnant addicts: "We're seeing a huge resurgence in heroin use as well as other opiates."

That's where Project Link comes in. Hagan says the JADAC program provides everything a pregnant addict needs to recover. Last year, Project Link cared for 224 clients with 85% delivering healthy, drug free babies. Hagan says, "We're able to go through and develop a treatment plan with the woman and see what her goals are and what we can do to help her with her goals."

Hagan says Project Link also helps connect the women to OB care, counselors, and 12-step meetings in an effort to keep them clean: "We recommend that they go to a minimum of five meetings a week, but really it's better if they can go to a meeting every day."

Hagan also says it's important to, "help them understand about the addiction, about what's been happening to them and what they need to do, and what they need to change so that they can be successful."

JADAC provides programs for anyone affected by addiction, not just addicts.

DRUG AND ALCOHOL RESOURCES

THE HEALING PLACE:

Women and Children's Campus

1503 South 15th Street

Louisville, KY

502-568-6680

Louisville Men's Campus

1019 West Market Street

502-583-0369

Campbellsville Campus

270-789-0176