Creation as transformation: Parenting as a turning point in drug users’ lives

Abstract

This paper is drawn from a narrative inquiry into how ex-drug users understand the connection between childhood trauma and their subsequent drug misuse. The research was commissioned by a community drugs project. Eight participants were selected from respondents to an advertisement in a counselling journal, five of whom are qualified psychological therapists. The particular focus of this paper is on the interconnection of childhood trauma/abuse, drug misuse and parenting, by showing participants’ own experience of being parented and how the experience of becoming a parent helped them to transform their relationship with drugs. The paper draws attention to the therapeutic value of recognising the complex contextual factors that influence the parenting abilities of problematic drug users, and of building upon the positive attitudes, hopes, values and capabilities that underscore the ‘good parenting’ found in their stories. The work suggests that drug rehabilitation, treatment or counselling might usefully focus on parent–child relationships, which can become a turning point for identity transformation.

Keywords:

• Abuse
• childhood trauma
• drug misuse
• identity transformation
• narrative inquiry
• parenting

Acknowledgements

My thanks to John, Josie and Becky for allowing me to use their stories. This work is supported by the European Social Fund and was commissioned by the Southmead Drugs Project in Bristol, UK.