Trauma-Related Disorders Statistics
Substance abuse and trauma often co-occur. While trauma can increase your risk for developing a substance use disorder, becoming addicted to drugs or alcohol often lead to experiences of new trauma due to the high-risks behaviors involved with addiction.
The National Council For Behavioral Health, founded in 1969, is a nonprofit organization that performs research and advocates for policies that will help individuals with mental health and substance use disorders so they can access high quality care. Some of their research shows that:
- Over 223 million people in the US (70% of adults) have experienced at least one traumatic life event
- Trauma is a risk factor for almost all behavioral health and substance use disorders
- Virtually all children who are exposed to a parent’s murder or a sexual assault will develop PTSD
- 90% of sexually abused children are also at risk for PTSD
Studies of people suffering from addiction are found to have experienced childhood trauma in high percentages. According to the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, the following relationships between substance use and trauma have been found:
- 25%-75% of abusive or violent traumatic experiences have issues with alcohol abuse
- Up to 33% of people who have been through accident- or health-related trauma have alcohol-related problems
- As many as 80% of war-time veterans (particularly Vietnam) who suffer from PTSD also have alcohol use disorder
- Veterans aged 65 and up with PTSD are at a higher risk for suicide attempts if they also abuse alcohol or suffer from depression
- Women who experience trauma in their lives at are a higher risk for alcohol use disorder
- Males and females who have been subjected to sexual abuse are at risk for alcohol and drug addiction
- Adolescents who have been traumatized with sexual assaults are 4.5 times more likely to become dependent on or addicted to alcohol, and are 9 times more likely to become addicted to drugs
- Adolescents suffering from PTSD are 4 times more likely to develop alcohol use disorder, 6 times more likely to abuse marijuana, and 9 times more likely to become dependent on harder drugs
Other statistics show that:
- 75% of individuals being treated for substance use disorder have a history of abuse and trauma
- Up to 34% of people in treatment for addiction have PTSD
- Approximately 33% of individuals exposed to trauma develop PTSD.
Although men report greater incidents of traumatic experiences, women are more apt to develop PTSD
It’s vital to receive a proper diagnosis for co-occurring mental health disorders, especially if you’re suffering from substance addiction of any kind.
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Dangers of Self-Medication
Trauma can have a negative effect on some lifestyle choices. In order to relieve some of the symptoms of trauma related disorders, many individuals turn to drugs or alcohol in order to gain some relief.
Using substances to treat a condition or symptom that you’ve diagnosed on your own, without the assistance of a medical professional, is known as self-medicating. Many individuals living with mental health conditions related to trauma turn to self-medication instead of seeking appropriate mental and behavioral healthcare.
Self-medicating puts you at risk for more serious health problems like substance use disorder or addiction.
When self-treating co-occurring disorders, such as PTSD, depression, or anxiety, with drugs or alcohol, the consequences can be extremely dangerous. In an effort to escape from, cope with, or tamp down the symptoms of a trauma related disorder, a person will sometimes turn to substances that might lower their anxiety levels, often using alcohol or marijuana.
Although self-medicating to deal with these types of disorder may seem to help you feel less distressed at first, over time serious problems will occur. Someone who is having issues with traumatic stress and substance abuse often has additional emotional or physical problems occurring.
People suffering from trauma-related disorders also may be suffering with anxiety disorders, mood disorders and certain behavioral disturbances, including addictive behaviors.
Having trauma in your background can also cause physical health issues to cause physical pain and chronic illnesses. This further leads to self-medicating to relieve the symptoms of stress related conditions such as heart disease or chronic pain with no clear diagnostic cause.
Some of the negative consequences of self-medicating to relieve trauma related disorder symptoms include:
- Drug addiction
- Alcohol use disorder
- Medical problems
- Relationship issues
- Increased anxiety
Self-medication is actually a common issue with individuals suffering from PTSD. According to the National Library of Medicine, about 20% of persons with PTSD have abused substances to help relieve their symptoms, with potentially dangerous consequences.
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Individualized treatment programs delivered in a comfortable, relaxed setting promote healing in your recovery journey.