In Conversation with CLARE Boardmember Dorothy Richards in Honor of National Women’s History Month - CLARE Foundation
Dorothy Richards is a member of the CLARE Foundation Board of Directors and a longtime advocate for women struggling with addiction and substance use disorders. Richards, whose work inspired the launch of the Dorothy Richards Fund for Women’s Recovery, knows that when women decide to get sober, they face unique issues that demand individualized treatment.
Although men tend to use drugs more than women, studies have shown that women’s drug use is more likely to escalate to full-blown addiction.[1]
“To improve parity in levels of care between men and women, one must be aware of the fact that women are physiologically and physically different than men, and their issues are different,” Richards said. “We were always told that a woman physically went down the chute much faster than a man. You seem to be a social drinker and handling it, and then all of a sudden, you’re gone.”
According to Richards, a major factor in the difference between men and women seeking treatment is the stigma women face when they choose to seek help. While Richards said that the stigma has lessened in recent times, partially due to public figures who have been candid about their battles with addiction, forty years ago social ostracism was extensive enough that it served as a barrier to treatment. This fear of “going public” was of particular concern for mothers, who feared that their children would be shunned if it was discovered that their mothers were addicts.
“Today, [recovery] is in social media. It’s everywhere, which makes it a lot easier for women to seek recovery services today than it was a long time ago,” Richards said.
Still, women continue to face hurdles that can prevent them from getting lifesaving treatment. The wage gap between men and women, and the fact that women are less likely than men to work high-prestige jobs, contributes to a lack of financial security and a higher likelihood that women may be uninsured or underinsured when compared to male counterparts, Richards said.
Women are less likely than men to stay in long-term treatment, perhaps as the result of gendered expectations of women to serve as primary caregivers.[2] According to Richards, this disparity is why the availability of campus-based treatment that includes residential, sober living, and outpatient is so important. By encouraging women to stay on the same campus, integrated programs like CLARE’s prevent women from being compelled to return to a home life that might hinder their recovery, be it due to temptations to use or dangers like domestic violence.
As public discourse turns towards the availability of women’s healthcare, it is essential that we don’t forget substance use and behavioral health treatment in the wider fight for affordable and accessible care, according to Richards.
“We need to talk more about the fact that this is a disease, and women suffer from this as a disease, just as they would breast cancer,” Richards said.
I brought this product in my Superdrug Haul. I’ve been using the same palette for a while now so I thought it was time for a change. I looked around and this one caught my eye. I liked the primer aspect of this palette with it being included, but I was intrigued about it being a powder.. Let’s put it to the test! I’ve been using it for a couple of week now so I think I’m ready to out my opinion.
My first impressions were that I liked the look of this palette. It’s self explanatory. First off, the primer is pretty pants. I wouldn’t consider it a primer at all. I’d consider it more of a base colour. I have no idea how they get away with calling it a primer. My Eyeshadow would hold in some places, but not in the creases of my eyelids. It would just gather up and rub off.. That never happened with my Avon Eyeshadow… Even without primer! I do enjoy the colours, but some are not very pigmented. The crease shade is probably the most pigmented where as the lid colour and the arch colour aren’t that great. Had to keep going over it to get any sort of defining colour on my eyes! Don’t get me started on the sparkle top coat. I put a tiny bit on just to try it out and it just crumbles. Glitter was all over my cheeks. It wasn’t a good look. If it was more solid I could see it adding some definition to your eye make up but it’s too fine and ruins the rest of your face!
Will I buy this product again? No. I’ve brought much cheaper Eyeshadow paletts that are more pigmented then this one. I was really disappointed because I’ve always enjoyed other product by Revlon like there lipsticks and foundations in the past. Such a shame that it just doesn’t deliver. One upside is that you can use this palette for a wet look, but that’s more of a night look in my opinion. For everyday use I would not recommend this.
John is a graduate of Berea College with a degree in industrial arts and of Haywood Technical College's Production Crafts program in woodworking. He apprenticed with Kelly Mehler in Berea, KY. John has exhibited his work in North Carolina and also at the Hancock Shaker Village in Hancock, Massachusetts. He has taught at the Folk School for many years (decades), sharing his love of Shaker and Arts and Crafts style furniture with eager students.
Fresh in from Nebraska, USA, an August 1968 BSA B25 Starfire, with just two owners, last owner had owned it since 1974. comes with US Title Matching numbers, B25B 500, makes this the 399th Starfire off the line! 6,167 miles should be correct, as it’s still on the original tyres. We guess a gearbox issue i the day put an end it is use, as it’s low miles and the outer cover is loose, could be kick-start ratchet problem?! But apart from that, it’s untouched. Rare to find one of these in this standard condition. Be quick, summer is coming and it won’t be here for long at this price.
The bike is not UK registered, but paperwork is supplied (NOVA and US Title) to register it on a UK age related plate to show all duties have been paid. All you will need to add to this is insurance, MOT and the DVLA £55 first reg. fee. Full written instructions are supplied on how to register the machine. The procedure is very simple and easy to follow.
It’s been a while since I posted a photo of the work in progress at Du Petit Lac Des Cygnes. All I can say is that it continues. I’m just letting the region more or less speak to me these days. Sometimes it rebels and says “Oh no you didn’t!”, And I go back and redo it. Other days the place seems to applaud my efforts and says “Well done!” The plan was to have the region open for summer, but that timeline has been pushed back to fall maybe. It’s all good as I am just enjoying the journey as each day reveals a little bit more of the vision. Be kind to one another. TWMA♥
In my garden there is a large place for sentiment. My garden of flowers is also my garden of thoughts and dreams. The thoughts grow as freely as the flowers and the dreams are as beautiful. ~ Abram L. Urban
A large portion of time was spent this weekend redoing the gardens around my home in world, even going as far as building a new wall around the side patio. The garden wall and planting areas were constructed using TDE (The Domineaux Effect). The walls were also sunk into the ground to get the planting areas satisfying my need to repurpose 🙂 The plantings themselves are from Heart Garden, Botanical and a few “new to me” places I have discovered. Peruse the credits for more info on everything you see here.
Today I am wearing a new hairdo from EMO-tions named Frida. Being a long time customer (5 years) it’s the first place I look for new hairstyles. What I love about this particular hairstyle is that you don’t get just one, but three various styles of the braid included in your purchase. Who isn’t all in for getting more bang for your lindens eh? Be kind to one another. TWMA♥