Child Stars: Is Trauma Why Many Turn to Addiction?

Three experts come together to discuss the causes and effects of addiction. Nicholas Mathews, founder of Stillwater Behavioral Health and featured in The U.S. Sun, offers his extensive insights. Dr. Michele Leno, a licensed psychologist and host of “Mind Matters with Dr. Michele” on CW50, contributes her experience in therapy and mental health.

Lastly, B. Taylor Santioni is currently a Therapist Manager of the Virtual Intensive Outpatient program at Sophros Recovery. She aims to bring the highest level of intensive outpatient treatment to residents of Florida in a virtual format. As a certified Master Acceleration Resolution Therapist (ART) practitioner, she specializes in the treatment of substance use disorder and trauma.

Together, they highlight the importance of support and understanding in recovery and how we can help address trauma and addiction at each level of care.

Nick Mathews, photo courtesy Stillwater Behavioral Health

What early intervention strategies are most effective in addressing trauma and preventing subsequent substance abuse?

Nick Mathews: “Therapy will always be the best answer–communication, talking to a therapist, and potentially some EMDR therapy. Speaking to a counsellor or a therapist as close to the traumatic event as possible will offer insight and help prevent people from exploring different ways to cope.”

In what ways can individuals with traumatic backgrounds build and utilize support networks to prevent addiction, and what should these networks include?

Mathews: “That’s a good question. Any support network that’s positively driven and built on the pretense of positivity and community over escape is best. You’ll often see a support network that might include people that like drinking together, you know, drinking buddies. That’s not what you’re looking for.

“Finding a community that gathers, not to abuse substances, but to do something positive, it could be pickleball, it could be tennis, it could be a running club, it could be all online video games. Finding a community there, just finding a community of people that will support you positively and teach you healthy coping skills. That’s really the key.”

How can family members and loved ones contribute to preventing addiction in individuals who have experienced trauma?

Mathews: “Being aware. If you’re aware that somebody’s experienced recent trauma, the best thing you can do is be a support and always be willing to communicate with that person, always be willing to talk to them. You never know when they’ll be ready, but as long as they know that your door is open, that you’re there, and that you’re understanding, they’ll likely reach out.

“In addition, you can always pay attention to how people are coping and try to hold them accountable early. Maybe it’s because they’re not doing what they used to do. They used to go to the movies, you know, a couple of times a week with friends, and now they’re just staying in. That is worth paying attention to and something worth communicating.”

How can social services and healthcare systems integrate trauma-informed care to enhance addiction prevention efforts?

Mathews: “Any trauma-informed care from social services would be tremendous. Addiction prevention is interesting because not everybody who experiences trauma is going to result in active addiction. Trauma is trauma, and it manifests in different ways. Some of us find substances, others find a habit, and others find hobbies. Whatever it may be, we all learn how to cope with these feelings.

“So care is really helpful in any layer of addiction treatment, and if it’s preventative in nature, then all you’re really trying to do is understand what could potentially cause somebody to go down a negative path and what could cause them to start negatively coping with these emotions. And if you can intervene early, then they’re never going to need to medicate, and when you don’t medicate, then you’re not likely to ever develop an addiction.”

B. Taylor Santioni

How can trauma-informed care be effectively implemented to both support individuals with traumatic backgrounds and prevent addiction?

B. Taylor Santioni: “Implementing trauma-informed care involves integrating numerous strategies, including creating a safe environment to process trauma, building trusting relationships with others, and utilizing evidence-based practices to treat trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Education about trauma, addiction, and the intersection between the two is also significantly important, as there is misinformation and stigma associated with both.

“Important topics to be informed on regarding trauma and addiction are the effects of both on our brains and bodies, the role of culture and diversity, and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). There is an ever-growing body of research that shows ACEs, which are a range of traumatic events that occur during childhood, are highly predictive of many negative health outcomes, including addiction, chronic physical and mental health issues, and unemployment.

“In fact, former president Dr. Robert Block of the American Academy of Pediatrics once said that, ‘Adverse Childhood Experiences are the single greatest unaddressed public health threat facing our nation today.’”

How can mental health professionals adapt their approaches to meet the specific needs of trauma survivors in addiction prevention?

Santioni: “Although we have a long way to go, we have also come a long way regarding trauma-informed care. In the not-so-distant past, we described veterans during World War I who were experiencing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder as ‘shell shocked’ or as having ‘war neurosis,’ and we certainly did not know how to help these veterans.

“To date, there are numerous evidence-based trauma-informed treatments including Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART). ART, a therapeutic modality I use often with my clients, utilizes rapid eye movements, CBT, Gestalt, psychodynamic approaches, guided imagery, voluntary image replacement (VIM), and metaphors to help clients address not only trauma but also other common problems including depression, anxiety, and phobias.

“Mental health professionals interested in learning more about incorporating trauma-informed care into their practice can reach out to numerous organizations including the American Counseling Association (ACA), American Psychological Association (APA), and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).”

What community-based preventative measures can be taken to support individuals with traumatic backgrounds and lower their risk of addiction?

Santioni: “I believe it is imperative to take a holistic approach when addressing trauma and addiction, which includes how I view providing different community-based resources to clients. For example, we offer our clients assistance in finding resources and support in the community, including case management, housing, employment/career assistance, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), and volunteering opportunities. Addiction and trauma can ravage our lives, so the more resources to enrich our lives the better!

“We also offer two free weekly SMART Recovery peer support meetings which are open to the public, as well as are the host of a monthly Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) speaker meeting. Peer support meetings are significantly important for those struggling from addiction and trauma because both affect our connections with other people and are very much overcome through community support.”

What role do resilience training and coping skills development play in helping individuals with traumatic backgrounds avoid substance abuse?

Santioni: “By nature, humans are a resilient bunch. Although we experience lows in our lives (and traumatic experiences can certainly make those lows last longer than they normally would), most of us do ‘bounce back’ after experiencing a trauma.

“However, there are exercises, skills, and tools that we can utilize that are both effective for navigating trauma and addiction and that can help us to ‘bounce back’ quicker. At Sophros Recovery, we utilize a holistic approach including teaching cognitive behavioural therapy (which focuses on how our thoughts affect our feelings and behaviours), mindfulness, nutrition, sleep hygiene, and much more to increase our resiliency and encourage our clients to discover their strengths and purpose without the use of substances.”

What are the key misconceptions about addiction prevention for trauma survivors, and how can these misconceptions be addressed?

Santioni: “One of the most common misconceptions I have heard from my clients, their families, the public, and even other healthcare providers is the idea that trauma and addiction are linked only when the trauma is ‘severe.’ This is unequivocally false.

“Trauma-informed professionals view trauma as a completely unique experience for every individual versus a specific experience or set of circumstances. One person may consider the death of a loved one, the loss of a job, or a divorce as a traumatic experience, another person may not. People also have significantly different, and sometimes opposing, reactions to trauma, such as sleeping too much and too little, overeating and undereating, and isolating and struggling to be alone.

“There are a lot of different reasons why people react to stress and trauma differently, which is why it is important to listen to our loved ones when they say they are struggling and reach out to trauma-informed professionals as soon as possible. Using alcohol and other mind-altering substances can be an effective, and deadly, solution to deal with trauma and stress, which is why early intervention that focuses on trauma and substance abuse is so important!”

Dr. Michele Leno, photo courtesy Dr. Michele Leno

How does experiencing trauma increase the risk of developing addiction, and what are the underlying mechanisms involved?

Dr. Michele Leno: “Trauma has a way of subconsciously affecting and disrupting one’s life. How you think and feel may be rooted in past trauma. We often think of traumatic experiences as emotionally distressing, but they can affect us physically as well. Efforts to cope, reduce, or even escape the associated tension could lead to substance addiction.”

How does unresolved trauma contribute to the development of substance abuse or addictive behaviours?

Leno: “Unresolved trauma, sometimes referred to as trapped trauma, can have lasting effects. The inability to deal with or understand unpleasant memories and flashbacks can contribute to substance abuse. The risk of addiction increases when a person finds relief from a specific substance.”

In what ways do trauma-related symptoms, such as PTSD or anxiety, interact with addiction and influence treatment strategies?

Leno: “A person usually uses substances socially, or with a specific goal in mind. Certain substances may temporarily ease the effects of anxiety and PTSD symptoms only for them to resurface later, at the most inopportune time. Although therapy and medication are also available, the person may choose to self-medicate if formal treatment does not effectively mitigate their symptoms. Unwanted medication side effects may also deter treatment compliance.”

What impact does trauma have on relapse rates among individuals recovering from addiction, and what strategies can effectively manage this risk?

Leno: “Sustained recovery requires healthy replacements. Once a person identifies the connection between their substance use and trauma, they can find healthier ways to cope. If they find that they feel more relaxed after exercising, creating an exercise routine can help prevent relapse. Processing their emotions with a therapist can feel emotionally freeing. Past trauma that has never been addressed is potentially more threatening to a person’s life. They expend a great deal of energy trying to ignore or suppress it, when they may find refuge in acknowledging it.”

How can trauma-informed care enhance treatment outcomes for individuals with a history of trauma and addiction?

Leno: “Trauma-informed care is essential to a person’s healing. The provider should have some training in the area of trauma and how it manifests in a person’s life. While some may encounter substance addiction, others may struggle to maintain jobs, relationships, finances, etc. At any rate, successful therapy can help a person navigate life with ease and feel less overwhelmed.

“The clinician’s goal is to gain a comprehensive clinical picture and, in collaboration with the client, establish a practical treatment plan. The client should prepare to share as much as possible about past and current events. Once a person has the appropriate stress management tools, long-term recovery and well-being are possible.”