The PATH Clinic—created by an obstetrician/gynecologist who saw the need to help pregnant women with addictions—has served more than 100 women and had 42 deliveries since opening in April last year.

Dr. Tricia Wright founded the Perinatal Addiction Treatment of Hawaii Clinic through the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine's Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health with community support and legislative funding.

An open house will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. tomorrow at the clinic, 845 22nd Ave., on the grounds of the Salvation Army Family Treatment Services.

In a newsletter this month, the clinic points out it “;is truly unique to serve its unique clientele.”;

Executive Director Renee Schuetter said the clinic will begin seeing women from the Oahu Community Correctional Center in January. “;They will bring them here.”;

Even though the women seen at the PATH Clinic are a high-risk population, she pointed out, “;they're delivering full term at a greater rate than the usual population.”; The average preterm birth rate nationally is 12.7 percent; the PATH Clinic rate is 7.1 percent, she said.

“;More importantly, what we're seeing is the women are keeping their babies and mothering their babies,”; she added.

Only one of the women served lost custody of her baby and she is pregnant again and back at the clinic, Schuetter said. “;She didn't stop using (drugs) during her last pregnancy. I think this time she will.

“;What we're seeing is that when women are able to stop using during pregnancy and keep custody of their baby, they're more interested in long-term birth control methods and not becoming pregnant again, and they're more interested in finding a way to be self-supporting,”; she noted.

She said the hardest part of the program is to get substance-abusing pregnant women to go there for the first visit. “;We're a safe place, a very comfortable place for a pregnant woman with addiction to come.”;

About 77 percent of women the clinic has contact with become engaged in the clinic's programs, she said. Of those who become involved and are living in the community, 82 percent stop using drugs and 9 percent cut down significantly, she said.

A homelike environment is provided for the women with a wide range of clinical services, including obstetric and gynecological care, pediatric and psychiatric services, substance abuse monitoring, birth control counseling and preconception planning.

For more information about the clinic, call 734-2034 or see pathclinic.org.