Mothers undergoing drug rehabilitation programme : is the mother-child relationship effected and/or changed

Abstract

Drug addiction is a personal choice. Research indicates that often an individual starts with experimentation with illicit or prescribed drug use that at times progresses to problematic drug use and/or a total loss of control. Causes of addiction vary from high peer pressure to increase level of stress, anxiety and depression. Throughout the process, the addict detaches from reality causing various problems especially in close relationships and reattach once the addict enters a residential rehabilitation. This study seeks to identify whether the mother-child relationship becomes effected and/or changed once the mother enters rehabilitation. For this study, I conducted nine (N=9) in depth interviews. Seven of the interviewees were mothers undergoing residential rehabilitation or have successfully completed rehabilitation and have been clean and sober for over a year. The other two interviewees were professionals who have either worked with or are working with addicted mothers. From the analysis of this study, it was evident both from the mother’s and professional’s perspective that the mother-child relationship is effected throughout the rehabilitation process since mothers receive various therapies which help to improve the dynamics of the relationship. Such improvement was shown in the attachment styles, parenting styles and behavior modification of the mother towards her child. Such outcomes have led to positive changes in the child’s life and as a result, the relationship between the two evolved since communication and trust was being re-build. However, sometimes, negative outcomes still derived from such relationship especially when children are of older age.