Experiences of Drug Use and Parenting among Women in Substance Abuse Treatment: An Exploratory Study

Abstract

The purpose of this exploratory study was to explore the multiple contexts of vulnerability, drug use and parenting for women in substance abuse treatment. Nineteen purposively sampled women provided qualitative data through semi-structured interviews. Findings revealed that adverse childhood experiences and intimate partners were important pathways into drug use initiation. Identities as mothers emerged as a key finding, intimately linked to women's motivation to seek and complete treatment. Understanding the challenges to recovery among mothers in treatment is an important priority for social workers. This study highlights the complexity of women's experiences and suggests implications for future practice and research.

Trust and collaboration between patients and staff in SUD treatment: A qualitative study of patients’ reflections on inpatient SUD treatment four years after discharge

“…Some informants claimed that their contact with family and friends during treatment contributed to sustaining those relationships after leaving the treatment centre. Research has confirmed the importance of supportive family and friends during SUD treatment ( Pettersen et al, 2019 ; Tew et al, 2011 ; Topor et al, 2006 ), and opportunities to work on troubled relationships and feelings of abandonment, grief, anger, and loneliness during treatment may be crucial in the recovery process ( Birkeland et al, 2021 ; Orford et al, 2009 ; Selbekk et al, 2015 ). Patients who have children are often overwhelmed by feelings of grief, shame, and guilt, and contact with children may be an important motivation for seeking treatment ( Brekke et al, 2020 ; Panchanadeswaran & Jayasundara, 2012 ; Wangensteen et al, 2020 ; Wiig et al, 2018 ).…”

“…It entails a change of focus from “cure” to “coping” ( Bjornestad et al, 2020 ; Laudet & White, 2010 ; Leamy et al, 2011 ; Neale et al, 2015 ; Slade et al, 2017 ). The social recovery approach emphasises the importance of meaningful and supportive relationships with family, friends, and professionals, as well as other aspects, such as poverty, discrimination, and community participation, which are all vital in a person's recovery process ( Bjørlykhaug et al, 2021 ; Brekke et al, 2017 ; Pettersen et al, 2019 ; Tew et al, 2011 ; Topor et al, 2009 ). Price-Robertson et al (2017) underpin the value of relational and social perceptions of recovery, claiming that an individualised understanding of recovery leaves the responsibility for quality of life and well-being to the user alone, instead of viewing people as situated in relational, social, and cultural contexts.…”

A recreational group intervention based on Relational Cultural Theory for women experiencing substance use disorders in Australia: A protocol

“…For women, the experience of shame and stigma relates to both gender and their reproductive role as parents. Societal concerns regarding women's SUDs and risk to their children's well-being are expressed by targeted interventions for women with SUDs who are pregnant or fulfilling parenting responsibilities (Elms et al, 2018;Marcellus, 2017;Panchanadeswaran & Jayasundara, 2012). Women…”

“…Women report substantially higher levels of stigma and shame compared to men (Agterberg et al., 2020b) with shame and stigma being identified by women as a barrier to accessing treatment (Elms et al., 2018; Green, 2006; Gunn & Canada, 2015; Lee & Boeri, 2017; Sanders, 2012; Thomas et al., 2017). Substance use has been perceived as a deviant and even distasteful conduct amongst women as it violates conventional gender roles and societal expectations (Elms et al., 2018; Marcellus, 2017; Panchanadeswaran & Jayasundara, 2012). Women may experience compounding stigmatisation or “double deviance” where they are stigmatised due to their substance use and further stigmatised because of their gender (Frišaufová, 2014; Sanders, 2012).…”

“…For women, the experience of shame and stigma relates to both gender and their reproductive role as parents. Societal concerns regarding women's SUDs and risk to their children's well‐being are expressed by targeted interventions for women with SUDs who are pregnant or fulfilling parenting responsibilities (Elms et al., 2018; Marcellus, 2017; Panchanadeswaran & Jayasundara, 2012). Women with dependent children have expressed concerns seeking AOD treatment due to fears of statutory involvement and the associated shame, and stigma of being a mother experiencing problematic substance use (Elms et al., 2018; Sanders, 2012; Thomas & Bull, 2018).…”