Stigma management for women in recovery

Abstract

Aims: This study examines the lives of women in substance abuse treatment by exploring the stigmas they perceive as they reintegrate into their communities Methods: Semi-structured interviews and observations were conducted over 9 months with 34 women in treatment. Data was collected and analyzed using a grounded theory approach of comparing emergent themes to develop theoretical conceptualizations. NVivowasused for initial, and theoretical codingprocesses in order to analyze women’s stigma and coping mechanisms. Results: Study participants perceived stigmas from family and intimate partners based on views of the permanence of the “addict identity”. Moreover, stigmas were undergirded by norms of proper womanhood violated bywomen’s experiences with addiction, survival sex, mothering and incarceration. Additionally, the Latina and Caucasian sample population reported perceptions of stigma embedded in racialized stereotypes of proper behavior for their ethnic community. Moreover, women also perceived stigma from treatment peers also managing psychological threats. As a result study participants employed strategies to reduce stigma and preserve their burgeoning identities. Conclusions: This study increases knowledge available to social justice researchers and advocates working with women managing stigmas. It gives insights into how stigmas shape processes of support seeking and community reintegration. Research findings can also inform programming for their families who are also managing anger, loss and stigma. This study has implications for both trauma andstigma informed initiatives that respond to theneedsofwomen and families with complex illness-related struggles. Financial support: I do not have any financial support to participate in the CPDD conference.