Drug Use, Recovery, and Maternal Instinct Bias: A Biocultural and Social-Ecological Approach

Caitlyn D. Placek

doi:10.5771/9781666937442

Summary

Drug Use, Recovery, and Maternal Instinct Bias: A Biocultural and Social-Ecological Approach draws upon theoretical perspectives in anthropology and public health to provide insight into the barriers women experience when seeking treatment for substance use disorders. In both theoretical perspectives in biological anthropology and social discourse within the United States, there is an emphasis on explaining why women avoid (or should avoid) using psychoactive substances during their reproductive years, especially during pregnancy. Theories of women's drug avoidance during the childbearing years rely on statistics to show that women are less likely to use all types of illicit drugs than their male counterparts. This gender gap, however, is closing in high-income countries (HICs), calling for more research on the biocultural and social-ecological factors contributing to women's drug use and the barriers to their recovery. The book uses qualitative data from participants in Indiana to illustrate women's struggles along the pathway to recovery. The overarching conclusion is that internalized models of “maternal instinct,” a topic inherent in theoretical and public discourse, can often impede efforts for women seeking treatment, and recovery is only possible when proper social and structural supports are in place.

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Bibliographic data

Edition: 1/2024
Copyright year: 2024
ISBN-Print: 978-1-66693-743-5
ISBN-Online: 978-1-6669-3744-2
Publisher: Lexington, Lanham
Language: English
Pages: 172
Product type: Book Titles

1. Contents No access
2. Acknowledgments No access
1. Drug Use and Motherhood from an Anthropological Perspective No access
2. What Is Biocultural Anthropology? No access
3. The Social-Ecological Model No access
4. Outline of Chapters No access
5. A Note on Language Used in This Book No access
6. Notes No access
1. Note No access
Chapter 2: Methods and Study Population No access Pages 25 - 34
1. Brain Disease Model of Addiction No access
2. An Evolutionary Approach to Substance Use Disorders No access
3. Maternal Instinct and the “Genetic Leash” No access
1. Motivations for Treatment No access
2. Experiences with Past Pregnancies No access
3. Pregnancy and Pregnancy Loss as Causes of Relapse No access
4. Connecting the Dots No access
5. Conclusion No access
6. Note No access
1. Sexual Trauma No access
2. Childhood Trauma No access
3. Psychological Trauma No access
4. Physical Trauma No access
5. Connecting the Dots No access
1. Women’s Narratives No access
2. Conclusion No access
1. Access to Drugs No access
2. Community Stigma No access
3. Transient Roots: From One Community to the Next No access
4. Housing Barriers No access
5. Transportation No access
6. Community-Level Support No access
7. Conclusion No access
1. Institutional Monitoring No access
2. Institutional Stigma No access
3. Perceived Lack of Services No access
4. Prescribing Process No access
5. Treatment Experience No access
6. Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) No access
7. Conclusion No access
1. A Note on Data Collection No access
2. Isolation and Stress No access
3. Conclusion No access
4. Note No access
1. Compassion to Reduce Stigma No access
2. Education and Awareness No access
3. More Services No access
4. Existing Services in the Study Communities No access
5. Evaluating Efforts with Anthropological Methods No access
6. Conclusion No access
Conclusion No access Pages 133 - 136
Appendix I No access Pages 137 - 142
Appendix II No access Pages 143 - 146
Appendix III No access Pages 147 - 150
Bibliography No access Pages 151 - 164
Index No access Pages 165 - 170
About the Author No access Pages 171 - 172