Second, those who abuse drugs live a lifestyle that puts them at greater risk for being victims of traumatic violence. In either case, issues of safety are of central concern to these women. The program focuses on teaching patients coping skills that enable women to create a feeling of safety in their lives without the use of drugs or alcohol. During six sessions, the women get guidance in asking for help, setting boundaries, and self care. They also learn how to form healthy relationships and gain control over their lives and emotions.
Preliminary results are extremely encouraging.
Graduates of the program abuse drugs and alcohol less, relate to others more effectively, and report suicidal thoughts much less frequently. That s good news for women who don t always have much to cheer about. For more on substance abuse, see pp. As advertising tries to influence our attitudes and our purchasing decisions, it can also influence how we think about our bodies. In this study, female undergraduates who were exposed to a set of sexist ads indicated that their own current body size was larger and that there was a greater difference between the ideal body size and their current body size than did women who were not exposed to the sexist ads.