Lived Experiences of Vulnerability in the Childhood of Persons Recovering from Substance Abuse

Abstract

The aim of the study was to deepen understanding of the context of vulnerability which is associated with drug-taking behaviour and addiction. The researchers sought to identify recurring psychosocial and environmental factors in the childhood and early adulthood backgrounds of the participants. They further scrutinized the data for pairs or co-occurrences of such risk factors across the target groups. Qualitative methodology was employed, based on in-depth interviews. The participants were accessed in drug rehabilitation centres in Trinidad and in Barbados, bringing a cross-national dimension to the work. The Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) method was used to analyse the data.• Findings: It is significant that nearly half of the Trinidad group and two-thirds of the Barbados group reported experience of rejection or abandonment in childhood. A profile of stressful or traumatic experiences was compiled for each participant, from which it was possible to identify co-ocurring pairs of stressors, which suggest inter-relationships between the phenomena. Marked co-occurrence was found between domestic violence and alcoholism; domestic violence in the participants' family background and non-attainment of. Secondary School Certification; non-attainment of Secondary School Certification and rejection; poverty and rejection; domestic violence and rejection.

Is there room for resilience? A scoping review and critique of substance use literature and its utilization of the concept of resilience

“…However, from this group, 319 are excluded because they do not substantially add to the analysis of resilience in the substance use field. Many provide no definition, theoretical backing, or operationalization of resilience (e.g., [ 52 – 58 ]). Others use resilience as a synonym for ‘restraint’ from drug use [ 59 – 62 ], or as a descriptor for individual(s) who adapt well or display toughness [ 11 , 46 , 63 – 65 ].…”

An exploration of addiction in adults experiencing early-life stress: a metasynthesis

“…In eight of the twelve studies 32 - 34 , 37 - 41 , alcohol was identified as the drug of abuse. Five studies 32 - 35 , 40 addressed poly-substance use; two 35 - 36 addressed the use of methamphetamine; two 33 , 42 focused on crack use; three articles 32 , 41 , 43 focused on cocaine use; and one study 35 addressed opium and heroin use. An article 40 focused on process addiction, including sex addiction, smoking, binge eating, alcohol misuse and gambling, and the misuse of chemical substances.…”

“…A notable finding is the existence of relationships between addiction, crime, and domestic violence. Nine of the twelve studies 32 - 33 , 35 - 39 , 41 , 43 identify domestic violence as a fertile setting for child abuse and substance abuse. Two studies 32 , 34 describe crime as the final point in life trajectories marked by childhood maltreatment and substance misuse.…”

“…In fact, these children accepted that being abused was a part of being a child. In justifying their punishments, they came to define parental assault as culturally normative as revealed in some of the reviewed articles 37 - 38 , 41 , 43 , 55 .…”

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

“…Several researchers have highlighted the link between various environmental and psychosocial risk factors associated with maternal substance abuse including adverse life experiences while growing up, such as prolonged stressful experiences, poverty, physical and sexual abuse, rejection, abandonment, and the development of vulnerability and resilience (Bernal, Roldan, Galera, & O'Brien, 2005;Locke & Newcomb, 2003;Valtonen, Padmore, Sogren, & Rock, 2009;Young, Boyd, & Hubbell, 2001). At the same time, research has also pointed to the link between maternal substance abuse problems and child neglect in conjunction with other factors including poverty and unemployment, family violence, social isolation, maternal stress, and maternal substance abuse problems (Bernal et al, 2005;Berry, Charlson, & Dawson, 2003) resulting in women's involvement with child welfare systems (Carlson et al, 2006).…”