Young Women's Program
Athena - A Healing Place for Girls
Since 1974, Comtrea has brought hope and healing to hundreds of women through the Athena Center. But today, more women than ever are seeking treatment for addiction to alcohol and other drugs. Just as the best environment for care has been provided at Athena for over 30 years, Comtrea is taking another giant step forward in meeting the special needs of female alcoholics and addicts with its outreach to adolescent girls. Comtrea will lead the way by providing care for these young women in body, mind, and spirit. Athena offers a safe, healing, respectful, comfortable, and inviting atmosphere for adolescent females, and Comtrea has developed enhanced services for them. This specialized programming is available to these young women in Athena’s day treatment and outpatient programs for adolescents. Athena’s Adolescent C-STAR Program offers a comprehensive, cohesive recovery program that will provide a nurturing environment from admission through continuing care. We offer support for adolescents in their journey to find and enjoy a sober and safe lifestyle. Some services offered include mental health and wellness programs, all-female lectures, a weekly women’s health clinic, parenting education, and female-specific continuing care models.
Research has provided information on how the unique nature of female’s addiction impacts treatment. Females become addicted much more quickly, become intoxicated faster, and develop alcohol-abuse related diseases sooner as a direct result of differences in hormones, metabolism, and smaller body size. Addiction in adolescents is frequently accompanied by mental health related issues such as depression, anxiety disorders, eating disorders and post traumatic stress disorder. With the high prevalence of physical, sexual and emotional abuse, the complex needs of females require integrated care. Women are more likely than men to be victims of violence, rape and other violent crimes. Young female alcoholics have increased rates of accidental death and death from suicide, and middle-aged women drinkers substantially increase their risk of breast cancer and osteoporosis.
