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Graduate student Stephanie Wood is interviewing聽women who care for people harmfully addicted.聽(Danny Abriel Photo)

There鈥檚 been a fair bit of study on people who are addicted, but what about the people who love and care for the addicted? What鈥檚 it like for them?

That鈥檚 what occurred to master鈥檚 student Stephanie Wood as she was doing her internship at Capital District Health Authority鈥檚 Addiction Prevention and Treatment Services. She recalls standing beside her supervisor as she conversed with someone鈥斺�渁nd I started to think, 鈥業 wonder what his family is going through?鈥欌��

And now she鈥檚 starting to find out. Ms. Wood, who is doing a MA with a focus on leisure studies through the School of Health and Human Performance, is embarking on a research project to explore the leisure experiences of women who provide care to someone harmfully involved in gambling, alcohol and/or drugs. Caregivers might include mothers, daughters, close friends or partners of the addicted person.

鈥淟eisure experiences may include going for a walk, reading a book, heading out to the gym or going out for coffee with friends鈥攖hat鈥檚 all leisure,鈥� says Ms. Wood, 26, who has her BA in sociology and social anthropology from Dalhousie and a BSc in therapeutic recreation, also from Dal.聽 鈥淭hese are things that enable them to get through stressful situations.鈥�

She鈥檚 hoping to conduct in-depth interviews with at least 15 caregivers and is currently seeking women to talk to. She鈥檚 finding it a challenge.

鈥淲omen in these situations haven鈥檛 yet been called 鈥榗aregivers,鈥欌�� she says. 鈥淏ut these are the people providing the financial and emotional support. They are giving the care and they are stressed out.鈥�

So far, she鈥檚 talked to women who compare their situation to a roller coaster: 鈥淭here are ups and downs and so much uncertainty as to what鈥檚 around the next corner. Often, the chance to be by themselves, to relax and rejuvenate, is the first thing to go.鈥�

Although many might not think of leisure as an important part of their health, Ms. Wood says it definitely helps to maintain good health. 鈥淲hen people don鈥檛 have leisure in their lives, they鈥檙e not making those social connections, they鈥檙e not being fulfilled. When people can鈥檛 get the rest and relaxation they need, they can鈥檛 rejuvenate and deal with basic issues.鈥�

She鈥檚 hoping her research will lead to other things; perhaps she鈥檇 look at men鈥檚 caregiver experiences or investigate possible support systems for families.

Her research is supported by the Nova Scotia Gaming Foundation and managed by the Nova Scotia Health Research Foundation.

If you鈥檙e a caregiver who鈥檇 like to participate in Ms. Wood鈥檚 research, contact her at wood.s@dal.ca