Parents' experiences of substance use problems, parenthood, and recovery within the 12-step movement

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to explore how people with earlier substance use problems narrated their experiences of becoming and being parents. The literature in this area is limited. Method: The study participants, all active members of the 12-step movement, were interviewed about their experiences of substance use problems, recovery, and parenthood. The data were analysed using a narrative theoretical framework seeking to answer the questions of how the parents narrate their experiences of parenthood within the frame of a classic 12-step storyline and how they present themselves as parents through these narratives. Results: The results show that, on the whole, the narratives conformed to a classic 12-step storyline. For example, the narratives’ turning points were often built up around experiences of “hitting rock bottom”, when the negative consequences of substance use culminated in dramatic events forcing the narrators to see the seriousness of their problems. At the same time the motivational potential of having or expecting (or wishing for future) children was downplayed by several study participants, who instead said that positive driving forces such as human relationships were not enough to break through their denial of their substance use problems. Finally, all study participants described how the process of working towards sobriety had been a transformative experience through which they had come in better contact with their feelings and emotions, and they defined this as an important resource in their everyday lives as parents. Conclusion: The results showed that the parents, when narrating their experiences within the frames of a classic 12-step storyline, were also able to present themselves as competent parents, empowered rather than stigmatised by their earlier experiences.