“Among the children of drug-addicted mothers I have seen, self-esteem is so low, and they have such a lack of stability in their life, are emotionally distressed, and are very much lost..” - Catherine Chelak, Program Director, Rural Women’s Recovery Program (RWRP), Athens, Ohio
This essay presents the consequences of drug addictions and provides coverage for the past 6 years (2008 through 2013) of Appalachian drug-addicted mothers and their children. According to the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP), about 2.7 million women in the United States abuse alcohol or drugs. Those who are most affected by addiction are the children. Most of these women have two or three children, of whom many have lost custody. According to Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the estimated number of drug-exposed infants born each year in the United States ranges from 100,000 to 320,000. What is the future of these children? Are they destined to become the next victims, batterers or addicts? Is it possible to break the cycle that often passes silently from one generation to another?
Magazine “NEVERLAND”, featuring the same issue, can be viewed here: http://www.yaninamanolova.com/files/2/neverland_web.pdf
Video “BORN ADDICTS: Drug-Addicted Babies in the United States” can be watched here: http://www.yaninamanolova.com/video/2/born_addicts/
Trailer "NEVERLAND" can be watched here: https://vimeo.com/9770611
