Understanding Trauma-Related Disorders & Addiction
Trauma-related disorders encompass a broad spectrum of psychological conditions that develop in response to experiencing or witnessing traumatic events. While PTSD is the most widely recognized trauma-related diagnosis, many individuals experience trauma responses that do not meet full PTSD criteria but nonetheless profoundly affect their mental health and behavior. These include complex trauma (resulting from prolonged, repeated traumatic exposure), developmental trauma (childhood abuse, neglect, or household dysfunction), acute stress disorder, and adjustment disorders with traumatic features.
The connection between trauma and substance use disorders is among the strongest and most well-documented relationships in behavioral health. The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) study, one of the largest investigations of childhood trauma and its long-term consequences, demonstrated a graded dose-response relationship between the number of traumatic experiences in childhood and the likelihood of developing substance use disorders in adulthood. Individuals with four or more ACEs are approximately 5 times more likely to develop alcoholism and 7 to 10 times more likely to use illicit drugs than those with no ACEs.
Trauma fundamentally reshapes the brain's stress response system, emotional regulation capacity, and attachment patterns. The resulting chronic hyperarousal, emotional dysregulation, dissociation, shame, and interpersonal difficulties create fertile ground for substance use as a coping mechanism. At Trust SoCal, our trauma-informed dual diagnosis program recognizes that most individuals entering treatment for substance use have experienced significant trauma. Our approach prioritizes physical and emotional safety, empowerment, and collaborative treatment planning while employing evidence-based trauma therapies alongside comprehensive addiction treatment.