TY - JOUR
T1 - Intergenerational Trauma Among Substance-Using Native American, Latina, and White Mothers Living in the Southwestern United States
AU - Stevens, Sally
AU - Andrade, Rosi
AU - Korchmaros, Josephine
AU - Sharron, Kelly
N1 - Funding Information:
This study analyzes data from the HerStory to Health project, a 6-year project (2008–2013) funded by SAMHSA. HerStory to Health provided a gender-specific comprehensive sexual health education program; HIV, STD, and Hepatitis B and C screening and treatment; trauma-informed treatment services—reflecting the intersection of trauma, substance use, mental health, and sexual risk behaviors in its approaches to services and treatment objectives; and recovery support activities. Participants included adult women recruited through (a) targeted street outreach to areas where homeless women are known to reside or obtain services, and (b) outreach at a local mother and child residential substance abuse treatment facility. The eligibility criteria for HerStory to Health included (a) being female, (b) being at least 18 years of age, and (c) having a past history of drugs or alcohol use. Those who met the entrance criteria completed the consent process and met individually and privately with project staff to complete the baseline assessment.
Publisher Copyright:
© , Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
PY - 2015/1/2
Y1 - 2015/1/2
N2 - The high rates of traumatic experiences reported by women who use alcohol and drugs have been documented in the literature. This study builds on the existing literature by examining the experiences of intergenerational family loss trauma among 226 mothering female substance users from 3 racial and ethnic groups: Native American (26.5%), Latina (24.8%), and White (48.7%). Demographic information, substance use, intergenerational exposure to mothering, and other family traumatic losses were compared across racial and ethnic groups. Data indicate both similarities and significant differences in demographic characteristics, type of drug use, and traumatic family loss experiences—with a higher percentage of Native American women reporting instances of intergenerational family loss. The extent of intergenerational family traumatic loss among women who use substances is discussed, along with social policies that perpetuate such loss. Recommendations for effectively intervening at the individual, family, and policy levels are presented.
AB - The high rates of traumatic experiences reported by women who use alcohol and drugs have been documented in the literature. This study builds on the existing literature by examining the experiences of intergenerational family loss trauma among 226 mothering female substance users from 3 racial and ethnic groups: Native American (26.5%), Latina (24.8%), and White (48.7%). Demographic information, substance use, intergenerational exposure to mothering, and other family traumatic losses were compared across racial and ethnic groups. Data indicate both similarities and significant differences in demographic characteristics, type of drug use, and traumatic family loss experiences—with a higher percentage of Native American women reporting instances of intergenerational family loss. The extent of intergenerational family traumatic loss among women who use substances is discussed, along with social policies that perpetuate such loss. Recommendations for effectively intervening at the individual, family, and policy levels are presented.
KW - ethnic differences
KW - family loss
KW - mothering
KW - substance abuse
KW - trauma
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84924987492&partnerID=8YFLogxK
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U2 - 10.1080/1533256X.2014.996648
DO - 10.1080/1533256X.2014.996648
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84924987492
VL - 15
SP - 6
EP - 24
JO - Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions
JF - Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions
SN - 1533-256X
IS - 1
ER -