Treatment Facility Opens Women's Center

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – There are major differences between men and women when it comes to battling drug and alcohol addiction.

It turns out women are more likely to fall into addiction and more likely to develop serious health problems because of it, according to a Nashville area substance abuse facility.

For more than 40 years, Cumberland Heights helped men and women fight drug and alcohol addiction together.

While togetherness remains a major part of the treatment process, counselors discovered that men and women recovered even better separately.

“When we were integrated with the men, we found that a lot of the program was male-oriented,” said counselor Becca Davis. “And here we try to reach the women.”

After months of planning and work, the facility opened its new women’s center.

“I don’t think there’s anything like this in Nashville,” said Cinde Stewart Freeman, associate director.

They said it’s made a huge impact on helping residents get better by bringing women closer to each other.

“We laugh a lot and we cry a little bit, too,” said one woman.

“They’re coming into this vast bunch of women who can help support them when they leave here, which is key,” Freeman said.

The new center will serve hundreds of Midstate women each year and give them a better chance than ever to quit their addictions.

“We really are saving each others lives. That’s not an exaggeration at all,” said one woman.

“What we’re doing not only changes lives on an individual level, it changes society and heals society as a whole,” Freeman said.

Cumberland Heights will officially dedicate the new women’s center at a special event Thursday morning.

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source:  newschannel5.com