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Abstract. Background: There is a dearth of information about mothers in methadone maintenance treatment (MMT), their parental stress, and suicidal ideation. Aim: To evaluate parenting stress and suicidal ideation among heroin-dependent mothers in MMT. Method: The study was conducted at an MMT center. Inclusion criteria were mothers with at least one child between 6–12 years of age. Mothers (n = 41) were interviewed about their background characteristics, drug use, parenting stress, and suicide ideation. Results: The mothers' median age was 44 (27–63 years), 35% were single, 20% married or with a partner, 45% separated or divorced, 83% were Jewish, and about one-third completed elementary school only. Among the study participants, 52% reported ever thinking about suicide, 28% reported past-year ideation, and 15% indicated they were likely to complete suicide someday. Mothers who have used heroin and cannabis reported high levels of parenting stress. Mothers with high parenting stress levels were more likely to report suicidal ideation. Country of origin status did not differentiate those interviewed. Conclusion: This study provides insight into a hard-to-reach population of mothers needing treatment, parental skills training, and mental stress reduction. Further research is needed to generalize the findings for treatment, education, and training purposes.

The use of harmful substances is a worldwide problem that has a major impact on maternal parenting skills. This study, conducted in cooperation with Professor Debra Murphy of Integrated Substance Abuse Programs, University of California, Los Angeles, examined personal characteristics of substance-abusing mothers and their parenting skills. The study was conducted at the methadone maintenance clinic in Israel where lifetime substance users receive methadone treatment. Results show type of drug used affected anxiety and parenting skills—mothers using alcohol and cannabis had higher stress levels and parenting problems; those using prescription drugs with older children had higher levels of anxiety. Also, higher levels of anxiety were found among mothers who served time in jail/prison. Surprisingly, mothers using opiates reported lower levels of stress compared to mothers that do not. As for parental skills, mothers of children over the age of 18 had more difficulties gaining their child’s cooperation. Mothers who reported higher levels of suicidal thoughts or attempts showed increased parental disappointment about the child, felt rejected by the child, were not satisfied by their parent–child interactions, and had a hard time gaining the child’s cooperation. This study, believed to be the first of its kind in Israel, provides important details about substance-abusing mothers in methadone maintenance treatment and information relevant for service provision and staff training.