Media Release

11:10 p.m. 

ALACHUA COUNTY, FL - Alachua County Victim Services and the Rape Crisis Center are encouraging participation in the P.A.T.H. support group.  P.A.T.H., or Passages through Addiction and Trauma to Healing, is a support group for women who have histories of sexual assault, addiction, and lifestyles that are at high risk for victimization, like trading sex for drugs or money. 

In speaking of the support group Rita Lawrence of Alachua County Victim Services said, "Sometimes women who have been abused as children cope by eventually turning to addiction and the streets."

The goals of P.A.T.H. are:

• To provide an atmosphere that is safe, supportive, and conducive to sharing feelings and fears triggered by sexual assault and the challenge of living in recovery from a high risk lifestyle
• To assist survivors in reorganizing their lives following this lifestyle
• To alleviate feelings of alienation and isolation; to enable survivors, through the recovery process
• To reclaim individual control and power
• To educate survivors on trauma and addiction recovery issues.

Please contact Rita Lawrence at 264-6760 or toll free 1-866-252-5439 if you are interested in participating in P.A.T.H.

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