Empowered Transformation: How Social Workers Can Help Mothers with Addictions

Abstract

Mothers are subject to intense cultural and social expectations about their role. For some, attempting to meet those expectations leads to, or worsens, mental health problems, including addiction. Mothers living with addictive behaviours are one of the most stigmatized groups in our society. With their anti-oppressive practice lens, clinical social workers are in an ideal position to offer effective treatment to mothers living with addictions. However, social workers must be mindful that some often used treatment approaches can enhance stigma, complicate relapse recovery, and promote reductionistic understandings of addiction. To mitigate these risks, this article espouses an anti-oppressive, matricentric, and feminist approach to discussing the mother identity, highlighting where social workers can avoid traps that disempower women. We then critique two addiction treatment approaches that are used to increase motivation for change: the nostalgia approach and motherhood as an anchor. Finally, we share our empowered transformation model, which  social workers can weave into addiction treatment with mothers to effect multilevel change. A case study illustrates the use of the empowered transformation model.