Earlier last month, KTLA’s Lu Parker interviewed Morningside Recovery’s Community Director Lisa Harper and Clinical Director Dr. Gerald Grosso, as well as ARISE Interventions founder Dr. Judith Landau, for a segment on women and addiction, and how the progressive roles in our society have contributed to the increasing incidence of drug and alcohol abuse among women.
The segment aired on California’s KTLA channel 5 on November 12th, 2013, and is available in its entirety below.
Segment Transcript:
Lu Parker:
Well did you know statistically men are more likely to become addicted than women? But experts now say more and more females are falling for what’s being called “Superwoman’s Kryptonite.”
Lisa Harper:
It’s such a sad, desperate place to be and on the outside it looks like it’s okay but on the inside it’s just broken.
Lu Parker:
Mother of three Lisa Harper juggled motherhood, a career, and wifely duties. But when the everyday superhero took her cape off, her villains took the form of vices.
Lisa Harper:
Nothing was working, you know, all that went with life, with work, managing a family, marriage, friendships. Sometimes it’s just easier to drink.
Lu Parker:
Her dependency, a result of depression and dealing with day to day life.
Lisa Harper:
You put yourself together, you get your hair right, you put the right outfit on, you pick up the kids, you’re at the soccer game. But then the books aren’t getting done, or the schools calling you, or you’re late to pick up your daughter at dance.
Lu Parker:
Women are currently the fastest growing population of substance abusers in America. With all the pressures of the modern missus, more and more are relying on a substance side-kick.
Lisa Harper:
There are more internal things that as a woman, a mom, a wife, just tear you apart.
Lu Parker:
Addiction leaves many feeling like the damsel in distress, but Doctor Jerry Grosso of Morningside recovery says that society may be playing a role in the increase of women and their harmful habits.
Dr. Gerald Grosso:
Social stressors have changed dramatically for women. Expectations of taking care of your family, your kids, your spouse, combine now with the expectations that you have a career.
Lu Parker:
Doctor Judith Landau, an expert on women and addiction, agrees and encourages those who are struggling to find the power in their own voice.
Dr. Judith Landau:
We’re living in a culture where one minute we’re in the board room and the next minute we’re in the kitchen or we’re feeling that we’re living in a car ferrying kids around. I think part of it is that we as women aren’t honest. We pretend that we’re coping long after we’re feeling that we’re falling apart. So we need to learn to say “I can’t,” “I’m exhausted.”
Lisa Harper:
I had to learn to allow myself the self-care and realize the more that I took care of myself the better that I was for everybody else.
Lu Parker:
Because sometimes even a wonder woman needs help.
Lu Parker:
Also, women in substance abuse programs are five times more likely to have been sexually abused as children than men. If you need help we have some resources for you at ktla.com. for Health Smart I’m Lu Parker, back to you.
Women and Addiction at Morningside Recovery
While addiction can affect anyone, it creates unique issues for both men and women specifically. Morningside Recovery takes into account the different issues each gender faces to appropriately and effectively provide lasting treatment for everyone. Call us today at 855-271-2252 for more information on our rehab for women, as well as our rehab for men and other addiction treatment services.
