Date
8-29-2025
Department
School of Behavioral Sciences
Degree
Doctor of Education in Community Care and Counseling (EdD)
Chair
Jason K. Ward
Keywords
substance use disorder, stigma, women, MAT, 12-step programs, advocacy, education
Disciplines
Psychology
Recommended Citation
Fitzgerald, Emily E., "A Phenomenological Qualitative Study: The Lived Experiences of Women Diagnosed with Substance Use Disorders and the Stigma Associated with Their Disorder" (2025). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 7375.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/7375
Abstract
The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of women with the stigma of being diagnosed with substance use disorders within the Northeastern United States. Women diagnosed with substance use disorders who experience significant barriers to recovery were defined as a vulnerable population that experiences significant adversities and hardships navigating stigma and the wellness process. Substance use disorders have been a rising public health issue that affect millions of Americans across the United States, and societal and self-perceived stigma have continued to mitigate recovery efforts and individuals’ access to treatment and healthcare. This study focused on the ontological addiction theory associated with a feminist framework to examine how self-perceived attachment to ill-conceived thought processes serve as barriers to an individual’s ability to seek care for stability and wellness. A feminist framework highlighted the need to understand women’s lived experiences with substance use disorders and self-perceived stigma to better analyze this phenomenon in order to promote anti-stigma efforts concerning education of the public and healthcare settings, challenging public policies, and encouraging individuals in recovery to utilize intervention services and peer support, while letting their voices be heard of success in their freedom from active use.
