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Voices of Recovery: Darrell Chapman
Voices of Recovery: Mama 'Nita
Grandmother, survivor and role-model, Anita ‘Mama Nita’ Parker is loved and cherished by many at One Day at a Time for her tenacity in overcoming her drug and alcohol addiction. Read her story and share her road to recovery.
I grew up in Philadelphia, born in Jefferson hospital. I have a twin sister and a younger brother. Liquor was the ‘thing’ in my house growing up; we kids didn’t know anything about other drugs then. I got pregnant at 16 and then married. My husband left us. Married again, and had another daughter by 1966. My second husband was abusive, and I stayed with him for 9 years.
I entered ODAAT Dec 23, 1995. I was addicted to crack cocaine, alcohol and marijuana. I was doing drugs with my four children. My children were my life, so I did the drinking and drugs with them too. That is one of my regrets.
I was using every day, if I could get it. My neighbors began to notice my addiction. My house had become a crack house. We began fighting with each other. I eventually lost my house. At first I was upset, but I was ultimately glad because the situation was dangerous – someone would have gotten killed. I was tired. I was 55 years old. I didn’t like what I saw in the mirror.
My niece was in ODAAT. I reached out to her. I remember it was a Saturday, and she told me to come to ODAAT, then at Broad and Dauphin Streets. I hesitated because it was a Saturday and I didn’t think they were open. “You can go today,” she told me.
My children were my life, so I did the drinking and drugs with them too. That is one of my regrets.
ODAAT sent me to a recovery house on Montgomery Avenue. I was scared at first, and probably didn’t move from one spot for the first couple of weeks. I began coming to group everyday, listening and learning. I thought I knew a little bit about everything, but I learned from the younger ladies I lived with. I think people call me ‘Mama Nita’ because I was the oldest lady there. I don’t think anyone knew my real name. I wanted to live in the house. I couldn’t do it by myself. When you’re on drugs, you live and go where people do drugs. I could never get away from it until I found ODAAT.
On Montgomery Ave, I became an assistant house manager and then the house manager for 33 residents. We never ran out of food or clothes, I cooked good meals regularly. I cooked food that many of the residents had never eaten before.
I stayed in the house on Montgomery Ave through 1996, and then moved to a transitional house at 26th and Venango streets. I was house manager there, too. It made me feel good to help. It seems like everyone had my number and they would call me all hours of the day.
I have 10 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren from my three surviving children. I lost one son to HIV/AIDS. The older grandchildren know about the family’s struggle with drugs. I tell them that they don’t have to do what we did, because we did it for them. Each one of my children has at least 10 years of recovery.
I wanted my children to respect me. I wanted my neighbors to see the kind of person I was before I started using, even though I didn’t live in my house anymore. I had to get better for me. I love this program; it got me to where I am today. I am blessed to see 70 years old. I wouldn’t change this life for anything.
ODAAT is offering FREE computer classes to the public! Basic Windows, Microsoft Office and other topics! New classes offered monthly. Call or drop by to check our schedule. (215) 226-7860.
HIV Facts:
Gay and bisexual men accounted for a significantly greater proportion of estimated new infections nation-wide in the United States in 2010 than any other risk group.
Philadelphia statistics however reported heterosexual's accounted for the largest population.
HIV Facts:
Each year, more than 45,000 people become newly infected with HIV in the United States.
ODAAT Fact:
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Call today for more information! 215-226-7860
HIV Facts:
One in every two people living with HIV in the United States is Black. Philadelphia reports 67%of new infections are African Americans.
2010 CDC data indicates about half of the just over 1 million Americans living with HIVS or AIDS are black.
HIV Fact:
In 2010 the rate of new HIV infections among non-Hispanic blacks was 7 times the rate among whites. Hispanics saw a rate 3 times that of the white population. Whites accounted for 35% of estimated new HIV infections. Asians/Pacific Islanders accounted for roughly 2% and American Indians/Alaska Natives accounted for roughly 1%.
HIV Fact:
Every 9 1/2 minutes another person becomes infected with the HIV virus in the United States.
HIV Facts:
Injection drug use (IDU) accounted for 12% of estimated new HIV infections in the United States in 2010.
Philadelphia reported a slightly higher statistic of 13%.
HIV Fact:
In the United States, men account for 73% of new infections. Philadelphia reports African American women are the fastest growing population.
The CDC estimates that one-quarter of HIV-infected people are unaware of their HIV infection and that these cases account for 54-70% of all new infections.
HIV Facts:
The CDC recommends that everyone in the US aged 13-64, regardless of perceived risk, get tested for HIV to help stop the spread of the disease.
It also recommends that sexually active gay and bisexual men be tested for HIV at LEAST once a year.
HIV Facts:
High-risk heterosexual contact accounted for 31% of estimated new HIV infections in the United States in 2010.
Philadelphia reported 55% in the same population.
HIV Facts:
The CDC estimates that African Americans are more severely and disproportionately affected by HIV than any other racial/ethnic group in the United States.
More infections occur among young people under 30 than any other age group. Persons 30-39 have the second highest infection rate.
