Learn how trauma can affect opioid use, treatment engagement, and recovery, and how counseling and MAT can support healing.
Trauma can affect a person’s emotional well-being, sense of safety, and daily life long after a difficult experience has happened. For some people, trauma may also be connected to mental health challenges, substance use, or difficulty staying engaged in treatment. Understanding that connection can help people find care that feels more supportive and effective.
If you are living with opioid use disorder, understanding how trauma may affect substance use, treatment engagement, and recovery can be helpful. Trauma-informed care and effective opioid use treatment may support healing by addressing both emotional and physical needs over time.
How Trauma Affects Opioid Addiction
Trauma and addiction are often connected, as many individuals with substance use disorder have experienced significant emotional, physical, or psychological trauma. There are many kinds of trauma, and increased exposure to these experiences raises the risk for developing substance use disorder.
For many people, early trauma comes in the form of ACEs, or adverse childhood experiences. Some examples of ACEs include:
- Physical, mental, or emotional abuse
- Neglect
- Food insecurity
- Poverty or experiencing homelessness
- Parental divorce and separation
- Parental incarceration and criminal activity
- Witnessing substance misuse and intoxication
- Having a family member with untreated mental illness
A greater number and severity of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) show a link to a higher risk of substance use disorder. Individuals with 5 or more ACEs are 7–10 times more likely to report illicit drug use and addiction. Those with 4 or more ACEs also face a notably increased risk of alcohol and drug misuse.
However, trauma leading to addiction does not necessarily have to occur early in life to have an impact. Many people experience trauma as adults that can have a profound impact on their risk of developing substance use disorder. In addition to childhood trauma, many adults can experience the following types of trauma:
- Sexual trauma: Sexual trauma, including assault, may have lasting emotional and mental health effects and may increase the need for support and trauma-informed care.
- Combat trauma: Combat-related trauma, including PTSD, can affect emotional well-being, pain, sleep, and treatment needs.
- Grief trauma: The sudden loss or serious injury of a loved one can have lasting emotional effects and may make some people more vulnerable to unhealthy coping behaviors.
- Violence and Abuse trauma: Intimate partner violence, or abuse at the hands of close friends or family members, can result in lasting negative effects.
- Medical trauma: Factors like severe illness or injury can result in opioid addiction as people try to cope with their pain and suffering.
When someone goes through trauma, particularly during childhood, their brain and body adjust to prioritize survival. Sadly, these adjustments often have negative consequences. Trauma can cause the following:
- Disruption of emotional regulation
- Increase in sensitivity to stress and adversity
- Long-term alterations in brain chemistry and hormone activity
In many cases, substance misuse serves as a coping mechanism for people dealing with the effects of trauma. People may misuse opioids to dull emotional pain, escape intrusive memories, or find a sense of calm and control. SAMHSA reports that people with a trauma history are much more prone to developing substance use disorders.
Can Trauma Increase the Risk of Opioid Misuse?
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) reports that trauma-experienced individuals are more prone to chronic pain. This raises their risk of opioid addiction, as they may misuse prescription medication or illicit substances to deal with their pain. Moreover, such individuals might develop a higher tolerance to pain medications, further increasing their addiction risk.
Opioids may provide a person with temporary relief by soothing the nervous system and producing a brief sensation of peace or numbness. However, if the underlying trauma remains unaddressed, relying on opioids can lead to dependency and addiction over time.
Can Counseling Help People with Trauma and Opioid Addiction?
Counseling is fundamental to effective addiction treatment. Substance use counseling that uses trauma-informed care is an approach that recognizes the impact of trauma on mental and emotional health. It aims to create a safe, supportive environment tailored to the needs of individuals who have experienced trauma and addiction.
Counseling can help people in the following ways:
- Tackling the root causes of trauma: By tackling the underlying causes of their struggles, people can better understand how trauma influences their lives. Their thoughts, feelings, and actions in recovery thus open the path toward healing and overcoming addiction.
- Coping with addiction triggers: Counselors assist in identifying trauma-related triggers and creating personalized methods for emotional regulation, controlling cravings, and resisting substance misuse.
- Developing resilience and self-efficacy: By practicing mindfulness, grounding techniques, and relaxation methods, patients learn to calm their nervous system. They develop skills to handle stress more effectively, reducing reliance on substances.
- Treating co-occurring disorders: Counseling can effectively address co-occurring mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, and PTSD that often accompany addiction. Counselors use evidence-based methods such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) to target and help alleviate symptoms.
Trauma-informed counseling incorporates key principles such as safety, trustworthiness, choice, collaboration, and empowerment. Integrating these principles into addiction treatment helps people feel secure and supported. With this crucial level of patient-centered support, people can work to conquer their addiction and process underlying trauma.
How MAT and Counseling Work Together
Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) combined with counseling offers a comprehensive approach to addiction recovery by addressing both physical and psychological factors. MAT uses medications such as buprenorphine or methadone to stabilize brain chemistry and curb cravings.
Meanwhile, counseling targets behavioral, emotional, and social causes for relapse prevention to promote lasting recovery. With all these benefits combined, those dealing with unaddressed trauma can focus their efforts towards healing.
Is Counseling Part of Opioid Treatment at HCRC?
Counseling and support services are an important part of opioid treatment at HCRC. We operate our services in accordance with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s guidelines.
By fostering transparent communication, respecting boundaries, and encouraging cooperation, counseling helps patients gain the confidence to take control of their lives. Our counselors urge them to begin a process of self-discovery and healing with both individual and group sessions. Trauma-informed counseling provides patients with practical coping strategies, insights, and resources to manage the complexities of trauma. With these tools, they can recognize trauma’s effects on mental health effectively and overcome their struggles.
Where Can People Find Opioid Treatment Support in Greater Boston?
During medication-assisted treatment at HCRC, expect a compassionate and comprehensive approach that prioritizes your well-being and future. We understand that healing from trauma and addiction involves more than just treating surface-level symptoms. Your treatment at our clinics encompasses healing you as a whole person, not just your addiction. Our trauma-informed counseling adopts holistic healing principles, recognizing the connection between addiction, trauma and recovery.
All our Boston-area clinics offer essential addiction treatment services, including MAT, recovery planning, case management, counseling, and more. To learn more about how you can get help with unaddressed trauma and opioid use disorder, contact us today. Our staff is looking forward to answering any questions you may have about our opioid treatment programs.
