Affiliations: Maine Medical Center, Portland, ME, USA | Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH,
USA | Veterans Administration Quality Scholars Fellowship Program
Note: [] Corresponding author: Kelley Bowden, MS, RN, Perinatal Outreach Nurse
Educator, Maine Medical Center, 22 Bramhall Street, Portland, ME 04102, USA.
Tel.: +1 207 662 2696 or +1 207 662 2167; Fax: +1 207 662 3001; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Employment represents the key to independence for
women, and equal opportunity has been an elusive goal. For women with substance
dependence, employment is strongly linked to the ability to sustain recovery.
Unfortunately, for postpartum mothers with substance use disorders,
gender-based barriers are magnified. A case analysis is provided to illustrate
the interaction of multiple barriers to employment success in one postpartum
woman's experience. OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the complex factors involved
in return to employment for postpartum women being treated for substance use
disorders. METHODS: A review of the current literature on employment,
substance use, and the postpartum period was performed. Themes identified in
the literature were applied to analyze a representative case. RESULTS: Postpartum women with substance use disorders face a variety of challenges to
employment success. Lack of education and job skills are common barriers to
successful employment of women in addiction recovery. These barriers may be
complicated by emotional or logistical challenges, or related to external
factors such as stigma and/or previous criminal history. CONCLUSIONS: Assessment of employment history, marketable skills, and barriers should be an
essential component of substance abuse treatment programs. Professionals
working to increase employment opportunities for postpartum women with
substance use disorders should be particularly aware of the multiple barriers
they face and integrate employment assessment and skills training into the
early stages of treatment programs.
Keywords: Substance use disorder, postpartum, parenting, drug use
