The relationship between the result of trauma and Substance use disorder

Experiencing trauma or trauma experienced during childhood or early adulthood, can be one of the major causes of substance abuse. Trauma is experienced differently and therefor trauma can be defined differently by individuals. Many addicts have confirmed, that numbing their emotional pain that was caused by trauma, have led them to their addiction.

There are 3 types of trauma:

• Acute trauma that is a result of a single incident,
• Chronic trauma that is caused by experiencing trauma on a regular basis over a period, for example, physical /emotional abuse or domestic violence and
• Complex trauma that are caused by being exposed to various traumatic events that was experienced frequently and invasive.

We do not want to feel the emotional pain. When emotional trauma goes unhealed, the body system is in a constant state of heightened stress.

When we suffer through experiencing trauma or reliving the effect of the trauma, we want to get away from it, be done with it or just want to get rid of it. We do not want to feel the emotional pain. When emotional trauma goes unhealed, the body system is in a constant state of heightened stress.

By using a mood-altering substance, such as Khat, heroin, Crystal Meth etc. the emotional pain is numbed and suppressed into the subconscious. The emotional pain is not gone, and it does reoccur when the drug is wearing off. Coming down of the high, the emotional comes back and might even be heightened. 

Trauma and the negative effect caused by the trauma can be dealt with effective psychotherapy and other evidence-based treatment. The symptoms of the trauma that are experienced can be managed well and remain dormant. But because the trauma that evokes the symptoms will remain, there is a possibility for those symptoms to be “triggered” again in the future.

Trauma needs to be dealt with. By using a substance, it is not eliminating the emotional pain, it is just creating more pain due to the consequences of the drug use.

Marlett Els

Social worker in Private Practice and Addiction Consultant