Women and Drug Treatment Experiences: A Generational Comparison of Mothers and Daughters

Abstract

Drug use and treatment frequently are investigated from an individual perspective. In this paper, we focus on the perceptions of drug treatment among women in 48 mother/adult daughter dyads. Two-thirds of the women were crack cocaine users and they all were part of a larger study on intergenerational drug use. The women were recruited using targeted sampling, followed by theoretical sampling. In the tradition of feminist research, data collection primarily involved open-ended interviews, following a life course perspective. Data analyses involved the constant comparison method of the grounded theory process. A popular assumption is that women enter drug treatment because they are ordered by the court to do so. Overall, the mothers emphasized internal factors as most salient. Another theme in the women's stories was the perceived barriers to entering drug treatment. A better understanding of the internal and external factors regarding drug treatment decisions will assist us in clarifying treatment readiness. The women also made suggestions for more holistic and women-focused drug treatment.