ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at the institutional approach and attitude to drug-using mothers in Slovenia. Research on this issue almost does not exist in Slovenia, creating an important obstacle to institutional change and tailoring of services to meet the needs of drug-using mothers. To better understand the position held by women in institutional practices, a qualitative study was conducted based on interviews with drug-using mothers and professionals in healthcare, social services and non-governmental organisations. The findings show the practices applied by healthcare and social welfare institutions often stem from prejudice and stereotypes and thus create stigma, increase the vulnerability of drug-using mothers and exacerbate their personal, social and financial situation. The findings also show that practitioners juxtapose the pregnancy and motherhood of drug-using mothers with child abuse since the mothers do not match the ideal of a ‘good mother’. Mothers respond to their stigmatisation by creating their own coping strategies to help them avoid institutions as much as possible and keep their children with them for as long as possible.
