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Trauma is characterized by a distressing event that leaves lasting emotional and behavioral scars. Unfortunately, many people suffer from trauma in their childhood. Childhood trauma is also referred to as adverse childhood experiences (ACEs).
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), more than 2/3rds of children report experiencing at least one traumatic event before the age of 16.[1]
When someone has a traumatic experience between the ages of 0 to 18, it affects them greatly. Dealing with an ACE can lead to long-lasting effects that continue to impact your daily life well into adulthood. For example, childhood trauma can slow brain development, affect your ability to form meaningful relationships, lead to mental health issues, and leave you more vulnerable to addiction.
The effects of childhood trauma are so far-reaching, and ACEs should always be treated by a mental health professional. If you experienced trauma as a child and went on to develop an addiction, you must seek support for both ailments. Many drug rehab programs are equipped to treat childhood trauma and addiction at the same time.
In this article, you will learn:
- What is childhood trauma
- What are the long-term effects of childhood trauma
- What is the relationship between childhood trauma and substance use disorder
- How are co-occurring childhood trauma and substance abuse treated
What is Childhood Trauma?
Childhood trauma occurs when someone 18 years old or younger experiences a scary, fear-inducing, violent, or life-threatening event. It is also possible for a child to experience trauma when they hear about someone they know experiencing a distressing event. You might also hear childhood trauma referred to as adverse childhood experiences (ACEs).
The Center for Child Trauma Assessment reports that 65% of children experience 1 ACE while 40% of kids suffer from 2 more more traumatic events.[2] In other words, suffering from trauma in your childhood is not uncommon. That said, it can be incredibly physically, emotionally, and behaviorally damaging.
Examples of situations that may qualify as childhood trauma include:
- Child abuse and neglect
- Physical abuse, sexual abuse, or emotional abuse
- Loss of a parent or loved one
- Witnessing domestic violence
- Witnessing substance abuse in the home
- Trouble in the environment such as criminal activity, violence, or poverty
- Natural disasters
- Parental separation or divorce
- Having an incarcerated family member
- Experiencing or witnessing chronic illness
While this is not an extensive list of events that could be considered traumatic, they are the most common. Whether you experienced childhood abuse, watched a parent struggle with addiction, or witnessed severe mental illness, you suffered from trauma in your adolescence. Unfortunately, childhood trauma can lead to long-lasting effects on your emotional, physical, and behavioral health.
What are the Long-Term Effects of Childhood Trauma?
Childhood trauma can leave lasting impacts in a variety of different ways. First, experiencing trauma as a child can affect brain development. The brain is still developing when you are a child, which means the events that occur can affect how your brain changes and grows.
When you experience something negative as a child, it could cause your brain to develop maladaptively. Instead of developing into an emotionally secure adult, you might deal with lasting chemical imbalances that cause anxiety, intense stress, fear, and even low self-esteem.[3]
Childhood trauma affects more than your brain development. Some of the long-term effects of experiencing trauma in your adolescence include:[1]
- Learning problems such as lower grades in school
- Behavioral issues in childhood like suspensions or expulsions
- Physical health issues like an increased risk of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease
- A higher likelihood of developing behavioral or mental health conditions
- Increased risk of experiencing addiction and substance use disorders
While ACEs can be incredibly damaging, there is still hope. If your child has experienced something traumatic, you should get in contact with a mental health professional. With therapy, your child can cope with the lasting emotional effects of the trauma and learn how to deal with the impact in a healthy way.
What is the Connection Between Childhood Trauma and Substance Abuse?
Now that you understand what childhood trauma is and how it can affect you, let’s talk about its relationship with addiction. When you experience something so distressing as a child, you are more likely to have a hard time coping with big emotions. Once you reach a certain age and are around substance abuse, you might turn to drugs or alcohol to self-medicate your symptoms.
According to a study on adolescents receiving substance abuse treatment, more than 70% of them had experienced a traumatic event.[4]
Another study found that experiencing ACEs predicts early onset of alcohol use and increases the likelihood of illicit drug use by 2 to 4-fold.[5]
These statistics prove that childhood trauma and substance abuse are heavily related. When you begin using alcohol or drugs at an early age, you are more likely to develop an addiction. This is because your brain is not fully developed, leading to higher rates of impulsive and risk-taking behaviors.
How Does Treatment for Childhood Trauma and Addiction Work?
While having childhood trauma can complicate the treatment of addiction, there are drug rehab centers that are equipped to handle these issues. For example, many addiction treatment centers take a trauma-informed approach. This means they use evidence-based strategies to help you overcome trauma while you receive treatment for your substance use disorder.
During treatment for addiction and trauma, you will participate in:
- Medical detox
- Individual and group therapy for addiction
- Evidence-based therapy for overcoming childhood trauma
- Educational groups on the disease of addiction
- Holistic care services like meditation and yoga
- Relapse prevention planning and aftercare
Trauma-informed therapy will help you identify the trauma you experienced, learn how to cope with the emotions the trauma causes and teach you how to overcome triggers. Oftentimes, trauma is the root cause of addiction, which means treating it will lessen your chances of relapsing on drugs or alcohol.
Finding Help for Childhood Trauma and Substance Use Disorder
If you or a loved one suffers from childhood trauma and substance abuse, it’s time to seek help. At the Mandala Healing Center, we offer trauma-informed addiction treatment to help you regain control over your life.
Contact us today to learn more about how trauma and addiction are treated.
References:
- The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): Understanding Child Trauma
- The Center for Child Trauma Assessment: What is Child Trauma
- Institute of Education Sciences: The Impact of Childhood Trauma on Brain Development
- Wiley Online Library: Substance use, childhood traumatic experience, and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in an urban civilian population
- Minnesota Prevention Resource Center: The Role of Adverse Childhood Experiences in Substance Misuse and Related Behavioral Health Problems
