Addiction is a chronic and progressive disease that must be treated in a professional addiction treatment program. While many people refer to drug and alcohol dependency as addiction, the condition is referred to as substance use disorder among medical professionals.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), 46.3 million people met the criteria for a substance use disorder in 2021.[1]

Substance use disorder has many risk factors that can contribute to the development of the condition, including genetics, environmental causes, and being exposed to drugs or alcohol at a young age. Additionally, people with addictions often have a history of trauma. When trauma goes untreated, it can cause a myriad of uncomfortable symptoms that might cause someone to begin self-medicating with drugs or alcohol.

Since trauma is often the driving force behind the development of substance use disorders, reputable addiction treatment centers will include trauma-informed care in their programs. Trauma-informed addiction treatment programs near San Diego approach addiction as something that affects the entire person and is the result of unresolved trauma or emotions.

How is Trauma Connected to Substance Abuse?

People who experience significant trauma often develop a condition known as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). According to the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS), adolescents with PTSD are four times more likely to abuse alcohol, six times more likely to abuse marijuana, and nine times more likely to abuse hard drugs.[2]

With that being said, it is clear that there is a connection between trauma and substance abuse. issues. When people do not receive therapy or treatment for that trauma, they may begin to misuse substances. But why?

Typically, people who experience a traumatic event are left with lasting emotional and behavioral drugs or alcohol to cope with their symptoms. Over time, this leads to the development of an addiction.

On the flip side, people who are addicted to drugs or alcohol are exposed to challenging life circumstances. Oftentimes, simply being in an environment where substance abuse is common can cause someone to witness or have first-hand experiences with trauma. Unfortunately, this only creates a cycle of experiencing trauma, abusing substances to cope, and so on.

What to Expect During a Trauma-Informed Addiction Treatment Center Near San Diego

Trauma-informed addiction treatment centers near San Diego focus on treating the root causes of your substance use disorder. As a result, they use trauma-informed care, as many people develop an addiction to attempt to cope with the traumatic stress they experienced in their lives.

Individualized Treatment Planning

Everyone who struggles with addiction and trauma is different, which is why trauma-informed rehab centers near San Diego do not use a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, they use individualized treatment planning, which involves an in-depth assessment to determine what your specific needs are.

Assessments for individualized treatment plans often ask questions such as:

• Do you have any physical health conditions that require ongoing treatment?
• Do you have any diagnosed mental health conditions?
• What is your history of substance abuse?
• Have you experienced trauma and if so, what kind?
• Have you ever been to a treatment center before?
• Have you experienced a relapse in the past?
• Does your family have any physical health, mental health, or substance abuse history we should be aware of?
• What are your goals and needs for treatment?

Evidence-Based Therapies

Trauma-informed addiction treatment centers in San Diego use evidence-based behavioral therapies to ensure that the type of services they offer are clinically proven to reduce substance abuse and aid in recovery from trauma.

Examples of evidence-based therapies they commonly use include:[3,4]

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Motivational interviewing (MI)
• Contingency management (CM)
• Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)
• 12-step facilitation therapy
• The matrix model
• Family behavior therapy

Trauma-Informed Care

Trauma-informed care is an approach used in various fields, such as healthcare, social services, education, and mental health, that recognizes and responds to the widespread impact of trauma on individuals. It’s based on the understanding that many people have experienced trauma at some point in their lives and aims to create an environment that promotes safety, trust, and empowerment for those who have experienced trauma.

For example, therapists will use language that encourages recovery from trauma and create a relationship with you that allows you to feel comfortable to share details about your traumatic experiences. Additionally, therapy will focus on helping you recover from the root causes of your substance use disorder, which is often related to past traumas.

Key principles of trauma-informed care include:

• Safety – Ensuring physical and emotional safety for individuals in all aspects of care.
• Trustworthiness and Transparency – Building trust through clear communication and consistent, reliable interactions.
• Peer Support – Recognizing the healing power of peer support and mutual aid.
• Collaboration and Mutuality – Valuing the expertise and collaboration of both the individual and the provider in the healing process.
• Empowerment, Voice, and Choice – Prioritizing individual autonomy and providing options for decision-making.
• Cultural, Historical, and Gender Sensitivity – Acknowledging and respecting the impact of cultural, historical, and gender-based factors on experiences of trauma.
• Resilience and Strengths-Based Approach – Focusing on an individual’s strengths and resilience rather than solely on deficits or weaknesses.

Aftercare Planning

Lastly, trauma-informed addiction treatment programs near San Diego offer aftercare planning to ensure that you are ready to tackle sobriety outside of the facility. Aftercare planning arms you with the tools and services you need to maintain long-term recovery from addiction.

The common tools and services used in aftercare planning include:

• A list of personal triggers and healthy coping mechanisms to use
• People who you can call in difficult times for support
• Recommendations on local support groups like 12-step meetings
• Referrals to sober living housing programs to ease the transition from rehab to everyday life
• Access to an alumni support group
• Case management services like access to vocational, legal, or medical assistance

Find a Trauma-Informed Addiction Treatment Center Near San Diego

If you or a loved one suffers from addiction stemming from underlying trauma, you’ve come to the right place. At Arise Treatment Center, we focus on trauma-informed care to ensure that everyone receives treatment that addresses the root causes of their substance abuse. We understand that addiction affects everyone differently, which is why we offer comprehensive individualized plans of care that are tailored to meet each client’s specific needs. Through a combination of evidence-based and holistic treatment programs, we can help you break the cycle of addiction once and for all and guide you on your journey toward a happy and healthier life in recovery.

To learn more about our trauma-informed treatment program in Vista, California, contact us today.

References:

1. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS): SAMHSA Announces National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) Results Detailing Mental Illness and Substance Use Levels in 2021, Retrieved November 2023 From https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2023/01/04/samhsa-announces-national-survey-drug-use-health-results-detailing-mental-illness-substance-use-levels-2021.html
2. The International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS): Traumatic Stress and Substance Abuse Problems, Retrieved November 2023 From https://istss.org/ISTSS_Main/media/Documents/ISTSS_TraumaStressandSubstanceAbuseProb_English_FNL.pdf
3. The National Library of Medicine (NLM): Treating PTSD: A Review of Evidence-Based Psychotherapy Interventions, Retrieved November 2023 From https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6224348/
4. The National Library of Medicine (NLM): Evidence-based practices for substance use disorder, Retrieved November 2023 From https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3678283/