Document Type
Panel Presentation
Start Date
20-4-2017 10:45 AM
End Date
20-4-2017 12:00 PM
Keywords
psychology, substance abuse, service learning
Biography
Chelsea, Krystal, Zachary, Bree, and Mikala are completing Psychology of Women as a capstone-level, service-learning course this semester. The students designed and are completing this project for course credit.
Major
Psychology
Advisor for this project
Dawn Howerton, Associate Professor, Psychology
Abstract
According to 2015 drug overdose data, West Virginia held the highest rate of drug-related deaths in the country (41.5 per 100,000; CDC, 2016). The concern for drug addiction is particularly high in Cabell County, with approximately 13.78% of the population currently addicted to drugs (Huntington Police Department, 2016). Unfortunately, for many, this problem does not escape expectant mothers. Across the United States in 2013, an estimated seven of every 1,000 live births were diagnosed with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS; Reuters, 2015). In West Virginia, the rate is five times higher at 37 per 1,000 live births, and the rate within our county is even higher at 139 per 1,000 (Reuters, 2015). To work toward resolving this issue, we are working with 34 expectant mothers at Marshall OB-GYN who struggle with addiction. Our mission is to further educate and engage women in this oft-overlooked population. We will inform participants of how to obtain a GED, attend post-secondary school, and develop a resume. We will also create a bank of supportive/motivational text messages to facilitate discussion and engagement outside of the program. Additionally, we will create care packages for the expectant mothers. The packages will help ease an exacerbated life at the hospital, since an estimated 75% of these women will give birth to babies with NAS. Overall, our goal is to give hope to women who struggle with substance abuse by supplying them with the necessary support and information needed to better themselves.
Giving Hope to Expectant Mothers: The Problem of Addiction in Our Community
According to 2015 drug overdose data, West Virginia held the highest rate of drug-related deaths in the country (41.5 per 100,000; CDC, 2016). The concern for drug addiction is particularly high in Cabell County, with approximately 13.78% of the population currently addicted to drugs (Huntington Police Department, 2016). Unfortunately, for many, this problem does not escape expectant mothers. Across the United States in 2013, an estimated seven of every 1,000 live births were diagnosed with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS; Reuters, 2015). In West Virginia, the rate is five times higher at 37 per 1,000 live births, and the rate within our county is even higher at 139 per 1,000 (Reuters, 2015). To work toward resolving this issue, we are working with 34 expectant mothers at Marshall OB-GYN who struggle with addiction. Our mission is to further educate and engage women in this oft-overlooked population. We will inform participants of how to obtain a GED, attend post-secondary school, and develop a resume. We will also create a bank of supportive/motivational text messages to facilitate discussion and engagement outside of the program. Additionally, we will create care packages for the expectant mothers. The packages will help ease an exacerbated life at the hospital, since an estimated 75% of these women will give birth to babies with NAS. Overall, our goal is to give hope to women who struggle with substance abuse by supplying them with the necessary support and information needed to better themselves.
