Overview

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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9781666937435

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Reviews

Caitlyn D. Placek makes a compelling case for the complex and interacting individual, interpersonal, community, institutional, and environmental factors that can affect pregnant women’s pathways to recovery. This a must-read for anyone interested in the cultural context of drug use and recovery. -- Emily Tanner-Smith, University of Oregon Placek’s biocultural model of maternal addiction provides insights that traditional disciplinary approaches often miss, while her weaving of firsthand accounts with empirical evidence illuminates the complex causes of addiction and how motherhood interacts with substance abuse in unexpected ways. She offers a compassionate and nuanced examination of a misunderstood and stigmatized population. -- Lauren K. Hall, Rochester Institute of Technology

Placek's biocultural model of maternal addiction provides insights that traditional disciplinary approaches often miss, while her weaving of firsthand accounts with empirical evidence illuminates the complex causes of addiction and how motherhood interacts with substance abuse in unexpected ways. She offers a compassionate and nuanced examination of a misunderstood and stigmatized population. --Lauren K. Hall, Rochester Institute of Technology Caitlyn D. Placek makes a compelling case for the complex and interacting individual, interpersonal, community, institutional, and environmental factors that can affect pregnant women's pathways to recovery. This a must-read for anyone interested in the cultural context of drug use and recovery. --Emily Tanner-Smith, University of Oregon

Author Information

Caitlyn D. Placek is a medical anthropologist and program evaluator who specializes in biocultural approaches to drug use and diet among reproductive-aged women from a cross-cultural perspective.

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