'PEOPLE DO GET WELL FROM METH ADDICTION'

Kermit Dahlen is on a mission to dispel one of the biggest myths about meth.

"There's a belief out there that people don't get well. People do get
well from meth addiction," said Dahlen, president and CEO of Jackson
Recovery Centers.

"Statewide in Iowa our methamphetamine addicts have a better outcome
than any other drug of primary choice," he said. "In the state of
Iowa we have implemented some very evidenced-based best practices for
meth addicts. We had to learn quickly." A total of 82
percent of Jackson Recovery's patients have remained sober six months
post treatment, according to Janelle Tomoson, program director for
the Women and Children's Center. "That compares to a statewide
average of 50 percent."

At her center, she said, "We have a 73 percent success rate of women
who completed the program. ...Some do come through more than one
time. Relapse is part of the learning process and part of the
disease. It's a chronic disease."

The Women and Children's Center in Sioux City is just one of Jackson
Recovery Center's programs, which include an adolescent center;
halfway houses; outpatient services for adults, teens and their
families; satellite services in outlying communities, and prevention
and education programs.

Since the Women and Children's Center opened in 1996, more than 600
women and 800 children have stayed at the facility, for a total of
100,000 patient days.

"Research consistently shows that women are more successful in
treatment when it is provided in gender-specific programming," Tomoson said.

Dahlen added, "If we are able to keep mom and the kids together
rather than having them go to foster care, think of how much we are
saving our community in dollars and cents. The moms not only learn to
get sober, but many of these women have never had an opportunity to
learn how to parent. They do love their children.

"Our programs show them they are not a bad person and are capable of
loving their children and are capable of providing them with a good
home," he said. "And, think what this does for that baby. They will
not have detachment disorder when he or she grows up. Those babies
will know they were loved and not wonder why their mothers abandoned them."

At the center, children 12 and under can stay with their mothers in
the 25-bed facility. Children who are of school age attend public
school and outside activities at the Boys Club or Girls Inc. The
toddlers and babies are cared for in the on-site Learning Laboratory
where the moms take turns helping to care for the children.

The majority of clients are eligible for Title 19, so the government
pays for their treatment. For others who do not qualify for welfare,
they can use their private insurance to help pay the bill. The center
also applies a sliding fee schedule for the cost, based on the client's income.

The mothers' days are packed with scheduled activities, ranging from
group therapy sessions to classes in anger management, health,
education, parenting and budgeting.

The center employs 20 people. The staff includes nurses and a
psychiatric nurse practitioner who conduct psychiatric checks, handle
medications and consult with the rest of the team on treatment options.

"Almost all of our patients have a co-occurring disorder, usually
depression or anxiety," Tomoson said. "About 90 percent of our women
have that so we treat both the disorder and their addiction."

National research links the problem of women's alcohol and drug use
to their mental health status and home circumstances, which may
include the following risk factors:

- -- Having a relationship with partners who drink, smoke or use other drugs.

- -- Childhood trauma and abuse.

- -- Domestic violence.

- -- Mental health issues including depression, anxiety, eating
disorders, low self esteem and suicide.

- -- Unplanned pregnancies.

The center partners with the Council on Sexual Assault & Domestic
Violence to provide treatment since the majority of clients have been
victims of physical abuse and/or rape.

"On staff we have about six members who are recovering from
addictions -- four who have graduated from our program specifically.
They not only graduated, but they got their kids back and are sober."

Tomoson, who has been the director for 2 1/2 years, said, "I think
our whole staff's philosophy is centered around our patients and
what's best for them. We use best practices in treatment approaches
and attend many training sessions to insure we're providing the best
and most up-to-day services available."

Dahlen added, "Every time I wonder why I'm in this business, all I
have to do is walk out there and hold one of those babies in my arms."