Stories tagged: substance-abuse
Interview with Yolanda Mills
by Yolanda Mills
In this interview, Yolanda Mills discusses her childhood growing up without parents, her involvement in prostitution and substance abuse, and the death of her son. She also discusses her history of sexual abuse in her family and foster care.
housing-and-homelessness sexual-violence substance-abuse
Interview with Pamela Thomas
by Pamela Thomas
In this interview, Pamela Thomas discusses her life, beginning with her life on the street as a teenager and her abusive relationship with an older man. She discusses her children, her relationship to her parents, and her path into drug addiction. She also describes her path out of prison, including a later parole violation that arose after she called the police for her personal safety, and her current work in the social services.
motherhood reentry substance-abuse
Interview with Hilda Berghammer
by Hilda Berghammer
In the course of being interviewed by Carolyn Watson and Salome Chasnoff, Hilda Berghammer discusses her life beginning with her immigration to the U.S. at age 9. She was involved in a series of abusive relationships, before being arrested on charges related to driving under the influence. She details her experiences inside Cook County Jail and Illinois state prisons, describing the intake process and the physical space of the prison. She also talks about her experiences in prostitution, and discusses her relationship with her son.
domestic-violence motherhood prison-life prostitution substance-abuse
Interview with Donna Henry
by Donna Henry
In this interview with Carolyn Watson, Donna Henry gives a detailed account of being raped at age 16, starting heroin at age 23, and entering Dwight Correctional Facility. She talks about losing her children to DCFS and the steps that she is taking to have them returned. She also describes her experiences in a drug treatment program within the prison, including a typical day and the worst day.
motherhood prison-life state-violence substance-abuse
Interview with Annette Anderson
by Annette Anderson
In this interview, Annette explains how she came to work in the sex industry and the impact it has had on her and her family. Annette describes how her drug use led to her involvement in the sex industry and shares some of the dangerous, violent encounters that ensued. After being incarcerated on drug and prostitution charges, Annette reflected on her lifestyle and decided to make a change in her life. Now, she works for the Department of Human Services and is active with the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless.
prostitution substance-abuse
Cracked Lenses: the Visual Exploitation of Crack Mothers
by Alexandra Cox
In this article, Alexandra Cox discusses the use of images of "crack mothers" and “crack babies” to reinforce sexism and racism.
media reproductive-rights substance-abuse
Children Do Hard Time for Their Parents’ Crime
by Kim Mikesell
Kim Mikesell tells the price that children pay when parents are incarcerated.
children-of-prisoners motherhood personal-narrative substance-abuse
Mapping The Way Home: Reducing Barriers to Women’s Reentry After Prison
by Patricia O'brien
O’Brien describes the difficulties that women face in returning to the community after prison. She addresses the major areas of concern in women’s reentry: relationships with their families and children, housing, relationships, substance abuse and recovery, and employment. For each of these areas, O’Brien lists specific policy changes that could have a positive effect on women’s abilities to rebuild their lives upon their return.
family public-policy reentry substance-abuse
Why
by Chrissy DeStefano
I lost my son right out the hospital when he was born for being addicted to drugs. So because the father and I were addicted to drugs we started robbing people’s houses for money and etc. for the drugs. Now we lost both kids, one to the state and one to my parents, and we’re facing 3+ years in prison. There’s more to the story but this pretty much explains it. Thanks!