Attitudes, Experiences, and Self‐Perceptions of Heroin Addicted Mothers

Abstract

This study compares the mothering attitudes, experiences and self‐perceptions of 170 women in treatment for heroin addiction with those of 175 non‐addicted women of similar socio‐economic status. The interviews reveal very little difference between addicted mothers and their non‐addicted counterparts in their perceptions of how having children changes a woman's life, the nicest and worst things about having children, and good and bad reasons for having children. Addicted and non‐addicted mothers do not differ in their feelings toward and perceptions of their own children, nor in most of the activities they engage in with their children. Heroin addicted mothers express more doubts about their adequacy as mothers and their ability to control or influence their children. Concerns about maternal adequacy pervade their responses. Addicted women receive as much social support for childrearing as non‐addicted women, but rely more often than non‐addicted women on their own mothers for assistance. A significant number of the addicted women bore children before they began using heroin suggesting that researchers and treatment personnel should emphasize needs of older children and their addicted mothers as well as problems of fetuses and neonates exposed to heroin in utero. Suggestions for treatment programs are made.