Mothers, Addiction and Recovery: Finding Meaning Through the

Finding Meaning Through the Journey This anthology is a collection of personal accounts, research, treatment approaches and policy commentary exploring women’s experiences of mothering in the context of addiction. Individual chapters focus on a variety of addictions during pregnancy or mothering including misuse of substances, food and smartphones. A central theme of the book is the meaning of women’s maternal identity as key to recovery. Part I focusses on women’s lived experiences of mothering through their addiction and recovery. The chapters in part II report findings from studies that have prioritized the perspective of mothers living with addiction. In Part III of this collection, we expand our view of addiction and turn to approaches for supporting mothers of daughters with eating disorders and prevention of smartphone addiction. In part IV, contributors expand on the themes of harm reduction and restorative, healing approaches to the treatment of mothers’ addictions that have echoed throughout the chapters of this book. The anthology concludes with a gendered analysis and critique of addiction programs and policy. “Mothers, Addiction and Recovery: Finding Meaning Through the Journey is a timely and innovative book, which provides a significant exploration of the topic of addiction. The book effectively highlights mothers’ unique experiences of addiction from their own voices, provides a comprehensive overview of current scholarly research and theorization on addiction, and offers a critical discussion of addiction treatment and recovery programs and practices. The authors provide invaluable insight into the various ways that women mother in the context of addiction, the challenges and struggles they encounter, and the strengths and capacities they demonstrate despite the difficulties and stigmatizations that they face. This book should be read by policy makers, academics, service providers, the wider general public, and anyone who seeks to gain a greater understanding of the unique experience of mothering in the context of addiction.” —CAROLINE MCDONALD-HARKER, Professor, Department of Sociology & Anthropology, Mount Royal University, Calgary, Alberta “This book addresses the topic of motherhood and addiction and clearly articulates that there are many different roads to recovery. The inclusion of lived experience is important as well as the need for non punitive approaches and access to programs where both women and their infants/children may attend. This would be a valuable book for anyone considering working in the field of addictions as childbearing women will make up at least half their practice.” — SARAH PAYNE, Retired Senior Practice Leader, Perinatal Addictions, BC Women’s Hospital