Moms battling drug and alcohol addiction often face a tough choice: taking care of themselves or taking care of their children. At Odyssey House, they don’t have to make that choice, because pregnant women and women with children can stay together, helping to build stronger families.
Amy nearly had to make that choice. Pregnant and struggling with a substance use disorder, Amy turned to Odyssey House. Now she is in treatment at the George Rosenfeld Center for Recovery with her 2-year-old daughter, working towards a brighter, healthier future.
“I am here to rebuild my life.”
When Amy was 22, her life was full of promise. She had just graduated from an excellent college with a degree in psychology and sociology.
But within a few short years, Amy found herself struggling with a heroin addiction that spiraled from post-surgical opioid use. Heroin took over her life completely — everything she did was to support her growing habit.
When she found out she was pregnant, she knew she needed help. Desperate to protect her baby, she turned to her family and they helped her get into Odyssey House.
With the help of her counselors and doctors, Amy understood the only way to have a healthy baby and get off heroin safely was with medication: methadone. Her daughter was born with methadone in her system and stayed in the hospital for a month while they weaned her off. It wasn’t easy watching her baby go through the pain of withdrawal, but the doctors and nurses helped Amy through it.
“I am grateful to Odyssey House and its program for women with children. It is saving my life and giving us a future. For the first time in a long time, I am incredibly hopeful, and that is because of this program. Thank you for supporting me, for supporting Odyssey House, and caring about the young mothers who are here now and those who will be here after me.”
Mother’s Day Awards Breakfast
Join us in recognizing our business and community partners whose commitment to recovery strengthens families throughout NYC.
Thursday, May 10
9 – 11 AM
George Rosenfeld Center for Recovery
13 Hell Gate Circle, Wards Island, NY 10035
All proceeds will benefit mothers like Amy and all of the families in recovery at Odyssey House.