Drug addiction is a scourge on the Earth and my grandchildren are its victims: the tough love and resilient growth exhibited by grandparents raising the children of drug-dependent mothers
Abstract
Parental drug-usage is a risk factor for child neglect. Maternal drug-dependency, in particular, has far reaching implications for the mother, her children, and the grandparents who are left to rear the children when the mother’s drug-dependency prohibits her from doing so. Thus, drug-related maternal incapacity to adequately parent her child/ren places a tri-generational burden on society. This study aimed to broaden understanding of this burden. In this regard, forty-nine custodial grandparent interviews were subjected to thematic analysis. Grandparents typically revealed their daughter’s marijuana usage began in early-mid adolescence, progressed to heavy drugs, and led to an early exit from the family home. A teen-aged pregnancy commonly followed. Grandparents when becoming aware of their grandchild/ren’s mother’s continued drug use and repeated instances of child neglect issued the the children’s mother with a ‘go-into-rehab-or-lose-your-custodial-care-of-your-child/ren’ ultimatum. Drug-dependent mothers were often unable to meet this ultimatum and grandparents then transferred their energies into caring for their grandchild/ren. The implications of this grandparent investiture shift are discussed, and future policy considerations are tabled. © 2016 Springer Science+Business Media New York
Keywords
Child neglect, Grandparent custodial care, Grandparent social isolation, Maternal drug-dependency, Resilient growth, Tough love ultimatum
Document Type
Journal Article
Date of Publication
2016
Publication Title
International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction
Publisher
Springer
School
School of Exercise and Health Sciences / School of Medical Sciences
RAS ID
22810
Copyright
subscription content
Comments
Taylor, M. F., Coall, D., Marquis, R., & Batten, R. (2016). Drug addiction is a scourge on the Earth and my grandchildren are its victims: The tough love and resilient growth exhibited by grandparents raising the children of drug-dependent mothers. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 14(6), 937-951. Available here