What is maternal addiction?

Alcohol and drug use by pregnant women is known as maternal substance use disorder (SUD). It is a serious problem with long-lasting effects and consequences for a child’s social, emotional and cognitive development.

What does addicted to a person mean?

An addiction to a person involves obsessive thoughts about the relationship, feelings of hope, anticipation, waiting, confusion, and desperation. Addictive relationships are toxic and very powerful. Healthy relationships do not involve constant drama and continual feelings of longing. Healthy relationships just are.

What happens to babies born to addicted mothers?

Babies born to substance-abusing mothers may have short- or long-term effects. Short-term withdrawal symptoms may consist only of mild fussiness. More severe symptoms may include acting irritable or jittery, feeding problems, and diarrhea. Symptoms vary depending on which substances were used.

Why are so many mothers struggling with addiction recovery?

That’s because many mothers struggle with underlying issues unique to their situation, such as: Admitting you have a drug or alcohol problem is difficult for anyone, especially addicted moms. There are many barriers moms face when it comes to their recovery, including:

How does drug addiction affect a mother’s role as a parent?

If a mother is actively struggling with drug addiction, she will be unavailable to perform the tasks most commonly associated with the role of a maternal figure. She might even inadvertently switch the roles, requiring her child to care for her as she attempts to navigate the ins and outs of active addiction.

Is there a negative stigma surrounding mothers with addiction?

Stigma of addiction: There is a negative stigma surrounding mothers with addiction. Instead of viewing it as a disease, many see it as a willpower issue or character flaw. This judgment is worse for mothers who struggle with drugs or alcohol.

Are moms immune to drug and alcohol addiction?

If you have found yourself in the depths of drug or alcohol addiction, there is a way out. For the sake of the ones you love so dearly, here’s how to tackle obstacles unique to mothers so you can achieve sobriety. Moms are not immune to a substance use disorder.