The Interplay Between Childhood Trauma and Substance Use

Effective change requires the altering of perceptions and challenging preconceived opinions, understanding the relationship between trauma and substance use is no exception. Participants will learn to challenge personal and institutional biases surrounding substance use so that its correlation to childhood trauma can be recognized and appropriate resources secured. Three contexts of substance use are to be examined: personal use as a coping skill in response to trauma; forced use as a form of coercion or control; third-party use or involvement and its effect on relational bystanders. Participants will learn how to reimagine or refine their approach to handling cases, clients, and the community with a greater understanding of the role of childhood trauma in substance use. Additionally, participants will leave with a foundational knowledge base of childhood trauma and its interaction with substance use disorders to better prevent, understand, or provide appropriate services in their relevant field. Practice tips in recognizing a connection between substance use and trauma will be provided along with next-step suggestions for specific responsive actions, treatment, and resources.