title: Mother's little helper? Contrasting accounts of benzodiazepine and methadone use among drug-dependent parents in the UK.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the ways in which opioid-dependent parents accounted for their use of opioids and benzodiazepines during and after pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Longitudinal qualitative interviews [n= 45] with 19 opioid-dependent adults recruited in Scotland, UK, were held during the antenatal and post-natal period. Interviews focused on parenting and parenting support within the context of problem drug use and were analysed using a narrative informed, thematic analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of participants described using benzodiazepines in addition to opioids. Almost all indicated a desire to stop or reduce opioid use, whereas cessation or reduction of benzodiazepines was rarely prioritised. In stark contrast to opioid dependence, benzodiazepine dependence was portrayed as unproblematic, therapeutic and acceptable in the context of family life. Whereas opioid dependence was framed as stigmatising, benzodiazepine use and dependence was normalised. An exception was benzodiazepine use by men which was occasionally associated with aggression and domestic abuse.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Drug-dependent parents attach different meanings to opioid and benzodiazepine use and dependence in the context of parenthood. Divergent meanings, and stigma, may impact on stated commitment to stability or recovery from dependent drug-use. Attention should be paid to the way in which policy and practice regarding OST and benzodiazepines reflects this divergence.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research on Families and Relationships, University of Edinburgh Edinburgh UK.
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chandler
authors.affiliation: Substance Misuse Directorate, NHS Lothian, Astley Ainslie Hospital Grange Loan, Edinburgh UK.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Whittaker
authors.affiliation: NHS Lothian, Waverley Gate Edinburgh UK.
authors.forename: Nigel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: Australian Primary Health Care Research Institute Acton Australia.
authors.forename: Kelly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: McGorm
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research on Families and Relationships, University of Edinburgh Edinburgh UK.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cunningham-Burley
authors.affiliation: School of Molecular, Genetic and Population Health Sciences, University of Edinburgh Edinburgh UK.
authors.forename: Gillian
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mathews
keywords: Benzodiazepine; opioid dependence; parenting; pregnancy; substance-related disorders