Kitty Dukakis Continues to Encourage Women Battling Addiction, Depression

As the Kitty Dukakis Treatment Center for Women in Jamaica Plain, Mass., marks treating its 1,000th patient, the program’s namesake (and former state first lady) continues to be open about her struggles with depression and addiction, the Boston Globe reported Aug. 17, 2009.

In 1987, Mrs. Dukakis, whose husband Michael was the governor of Massachusetts and running for president, stunned the political world by disclosing that she had been addicted to amphetamines for 26 years and had been treated in 1982. Just months after her husband lost his bid for the presidency in 1988, Mrs. Dukakis entered a treatment center for alcohol abuse. She later admitted that some of her rock-bottom moments during the campaign included drinking rubbing alcohol and hair spray.

Mrs. Dukakis’ willingness to speak about her struggles with depression and recovery, and her advocacy for better public services for those who have mental illnesses or addictions, have helped her connect with other women in recovery. Despite her privileged background, Dukakis said she finds plenty of common ground with the other women at the center.

“There are many stories that have the same theme, even though I have not been homeless,” said Mrs. Dukakis, now 72.  “They are able to react to my story because there are parts of my story that are not different than theirs, the whole issue of shame, of pain we’ve caused other people.”