Addiction in Maternity: Prevalence of Mental Illness, Substance Use, and Trauma

Abstract

Women living in vulnerable neighborhoods experience higher rates of poverty, homelessness, psychiatric issues, illicit substance use, rates of HIV, and a lowered life expectancy. The aim of the study was to further explore the history of mental illness and trauma in a sample of women (N = 31) who had recently given birth and had a substance use problem while pregnant. We investigated sociodemographic characteristics, history of trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), rates of substance use and dependence, and psychiatric symptoms. Childhood and adult traumatic experiences were found in the majority of the sample, and one-third presented with suspected PTSD diagnosis at the time of the interview. Women-centered services are in great demand, as well as trauma informed care, and further research on appropriate treatment for substance using, traumatized, women with a mental illness.

Keywords:

• homelessness
• pregnancy
• PTSD
• Vancouver Downtown Eastside
• vulnerable
• women

Acknowledgments

The Carraresi Foundation provided funding for this study. Dr. Torchalla was supported by an HSBC fellowship.