Maternal habits: Narratives of mothering, social position and drug use

Concerns are frequently voiced about harms to children of mothers who use drugs. We explored the subjective socio-cultural experiences of childrearing by women using illicit drugs (heroin mainly and amphetamines) and compared them to those of three other groups of women. Two comparison groups mirrored correlates of illicit drug use, namely: women on low incomes (who did not use these drugs) and women who are mobile, and therefore likely to be socially isolated (these had partners employed in the Australian Defence Forces). The third group reflected the desired social norm, i.e. women with medium and higher incomes who did not use illicit drugs. In-depth interviews were conducted with purposive samples, totaling 70 women with children aged five and below residing in Canberra, Australia. All women, irrespective of their drug use, found living on a low income, social isolation or being at home with young children difficult, at least sometimes. However, women who use illicit drugs are often blamed for these difficulties in ways that other groups of women are not. They also do not receive the same levels of social support that other women enjoy.