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Suzanne Farley is the executive director of Wellspring.
Generational trauma and substance use disorder (SUD) are powerful forces in our families and communities. They touch and diminish virtually every aspect of society — destroying relationships, limiting personal aspirations, contributing to poor health outcomes, underlying incarcerations, damaging the economy, and so much more.
If we don’t raise greater awareness about the cycle of family trauma and substance use — addressing this as the crisis it represents — the significant progress we all seek in reducing the rate of SUD, co-occurring mental health disorders, and overdose deaths will not be attainable. Breaking these powerful forces by addressing stigma, shame and fear is one of the most effective actions we can take to bring about transformative change.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, genetics can account for approximately 50 percent of a person’s risk for addiction. Environmental factors, such as home and family, play an additional role. A report released in 2022 by the United States Department of Health and Human Services ranked Maine first among the states for the highest percentage of children 17 years of age and younger living with a parent suffering from SUD.
That’s the alarming news. But think of what is possible. A study from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2019 suggested that if all children grew up in a home free from substance use disorders, mental illness and domestic violence, depression would drop by 44 percent. There would be a 24 percent reduction in alcoholism and 33 percent fewer smokers. This isn’t likely to be fully realized, of course, but it provides insight into what could occur if we direct sustained attention and resources on prevention, as well as interventions to help families already struggling with these challenges.
Generational trauma and SUD might be worse in rural areas. In small communities, where treatment and resources are scarce, little in-person support is available. In places where everyone seems to know each other, coming forward to ask for help may be especially difficult. As the cycle continues, family members may begin to believe life is meant to be characterized by hopelessness and self-medication through nicotine, alcohol and other substances.
At Wellspring, we are confronting this reality. Through our Infinity House, mothers receive quality treatment and the support necessary to begin a new life in recovery. Their children live in the house or visit to establish healthy bonds. Infinity House is a place of safety and structure.
Wellspring, however, is doing more by launching an initiative called Breaking the Stigma: Supporting Pregnant Women Who Struggle with Substance Use. Thanks to generous funding from the Maine Community Foundation, this effort will offer valuable information, personal assistance in accessing resources, understanding listeners, and meaningful encouragement. For some participants, this will be a rare source of support.
Through a series of roundtable discussions, Wellspring’s staff will hear from those affected by the use of alcohol and other substances. Their stories, concerns and needs must be better understood and valued to make lasting change. Wellspring wishes to remain in touch with participants to provide ongoing guidance and resources. We hope they will encourage friends and relatives to also seek assistance, if needed.
The public is encouraged to share roundtable details with anyone who is pregnant, newly parenting or providing care to individuals who are pregnant or with small children and experiencing problems with alcohol or other substances. The first session is May 22 at the Bangor Area Recovery Network (BARN) in Brewer. Others are scheduled for May 24 at Pir2Peer Recovery Center in Medway, May 29 at Save a Life Recovery Network in Lincoln, and May 30 at the Abbott Memorial Library in Dexter. All sessions begin at 10 a.m. Gift cards of $50 and other incentives will be offered. For more information, send a message to [email protected].
Ultimately, the voices of people with lived experience are required to enhance our understanding of how to most effectively connect and address needs. Done well, this initiative will help to ensure many more children in rural areas are raised in a healthy environment — free of substance use, violence and other harmful practices.
