The Link Between Trauma and Addiction—And Why Treating Both Matters

Each person’s journey into addiction is a deeply intricate and unique story, often shaped by individual lived experience.

When we explore beneath a person’s symptoms, words, and behaviours, we may find there’s a lot more to the story than drug or alcohol use. 

Many individuals who seek help for addiction are also carrying the heavy burden of deep, often long-standing, unresolved trauma.

We understand that your path is not a linear one, and we are here to support you through the various complexities you may face as you begin your recovery journey.

The link between trauma and addiction

Numerous studies indicate a profound link between unresolved trauma and addiction.

For instance, one study in particular explored the complicated relationship between addiction and trauma in Canada; here’s what the research showed:

• At least 20% of people in Canada with a mental health condition also have a substance use disorder.
• In Ontario specifically, the prevalence of substance abuse and mental illness is approximately 1.5 times higher than all cancers put together.
• Individuals with schizophrenia are more likely to struggle with substance use disorder, with the statistics being as high as 50%.

Those on the path to recovery from trauma and addiction can find significant relief in integrated, holistic treatment approaches that address both disorders simultaneously, allowing them to heal in a more profound, meaningful way. 

Trauma and addiction treatment in Canada: Why treating both matters

At Centres for Health and Healing, we understand that recovery requires more than just detox. 

For an individual to achieve lasting, meaningful recovery, it’s crucial to address both trauma and addiction together, as the two often go hand-in-hand.

What we mean by this is that trauma can often lead to addiction as a coping mechanism, and addiction can exacerbate the effects of trauma, creating a vicious cycle that can feel impossible to break.

The link between these disorders is inextricable, and addressing one without the other can be ineffective or lead only to short-term recovery outcomes.

Our team, comprised of experienced professionals in the field of addiction and trauma recovery, uses a ‘’whole person’’ approach to healing, helping individuals to explore all the different parts of the self that may lead to substance use, such as shame, grief, trauma, or other types of adversity. 

In doing so, we can allow any fragmented parts to become integrated into a whole self, enabling the individual to accept aspects of their experience or identity they may have repressed, denied or numbed through years of drinking or drug use.

We offer a comprehensive approach, combining traditional addiction treatment with trauma-focused methodologies to help address the root cause of substance use, not just the symptoms. 

Our trauma and addiction treatment programs have helped numerous individuals in Canada not only recover but also thrive despite what they may have been through in the past.

To learn more about our programs and how we can assist you, please get in touch with our professional team today.

How trauma fuels the addiction cycle

Trauma, which Gabor Mate describes as ‘’an inner injury, a lasting rupture or split with the self due to traumatic or hurtful events’’, can come in various forms.

This can include abuse, childhood neglect, violence, the sudden loss of a loved one, betrayal, and even chronic stress.

Left unresolved, these inner ruptures or painful wounds can alter the way the body and brain respond to the world.

For instance, an individual who experienced childhood trauma may find it difficult to trust others or feel safe in their bodies or the world around them because of what they went through in their formative years.

On the other hand, someone who experienced a betrayal may carry deeply ingrained attachment wounds that prevent them from having healthy connections with new people.

These are common trauma responses and are often the nervous system’s way of trying to protect the individual from further harm or emotional distress.

In the short term, these responses can be helpful, allowing the person to take the appropriate action or measures that can help them through a crisis or emergency.

However, many of the stress responses that trauma survivors engage in can end up being maladaptive, particularly when they become a way of life. 

When this happens, the person’s ‘’inner alarm system’’ or amygdala, the part of the brain responsible for detecting danger, may find it challenging to distinguish between safety and an actual threat.

This can put the individual into spiky nervous system states, such as hyperarousal (anxiety) or hypoarousal (shut down), resulting in symptoms that can feel difficult to understand, manage or control. 

Substances like drugs and alcohol can become a way for someone to cope with these symptoms, as well as painful or traumatic experiences that have not yet been properly processed.

Although harmful, this type of coping can help the individual to:

• Escape, distract or numb their pain through drugs or alcohol.
• Escape painful memories through substance use or other compulsive behaviours.
• Seek relief from anxiety, restlessness or sleeplessness with illicit drugs or prescription medication. 

What starts as a temporary distraction or a way to get psychological relief can quickly spiral into dependence, which can often fuel the trauma and addiction cycle, where one disorder feeds into the other.

Early intervention is crucial as it can help you avoid any health complications that may arise as a result of prolonged substance use.

Why treating addiction alone isn’t enough

Historically, traditional addiction treatment models only focused on symptom management, overlooking what may lie beneath these coping behaviours, such as underlying trauma or other emotional difficulties.

This approach would often leave individuals vulnerable to relapse as the root causes remained unresolved and unprocessed.

Fortunately, how treatment providers approach co-occurring disorders like trauma and addiction today is much more nuanced and comprehensive.

At our treatment centre in Canada, we consider an individual’s unique symptoms, medical history, beliefs, values, and lived experiences in the treatment process.

This comprehensive approach allows us to tailor treatment to the individual, ensuring that we address all aspects of their trauma history and current coping behaviours, leading to lasting sobriety and emotional wellness.

Trauma-informed addiction treatment 

At Centres for Health and Healing, we use a variety of treatments and experiential approaches to help address and effectively treat trauma and addiction concurrently.

Our approach includes:

• Individualized treatment – Our experienced therapists and counsellors use CBT and DBT to help individuals understand how their thoughts and emotions impact their behaviours, creating lasting change. Our team adopts a trauma-informed approach, enabling clients to process painful or traumatic memories safely and effectively.
• Family support and group therapy – We believe in the power of connection to help individuals heal from addiction and trauma. Our family therapy and peer support programs enable clients to connect with others who may have walked a similar path, drawing on the support of loved ones and community resources to rebuild resilience while remaining accountable. 
• Experiential approaches – At Centres for Health and Healing, we understand the significant impact that trauma and addiction can have on the body. Therefore, we incorporate mindfulness, yoga, breathwork, and other somatic approaches into our addiction programs to help clients reconnect with their bodies in a safe and empowering way. 
• Aftercare and support – Completing inpatient treatment is a significant milestone that deserves celebration. However, it’s not the end of the journey; instead, it marks the beginning of a lifelong road to recovery. That’s why addiction aftercare in Ontario is vital in helping individuals remain sober and well through ongoing therapy, peer support, and community connections after treatment ends. 

Why this approach matters in recovery

Integrated treatment approaches like ours enable clients to process their trauma in a safe, supportive, empowering way and can help:

• Alleviate cravings and triggers.
• Rebuild relationships with the self and others.
• Develop healthier coping strategies.
• Find peace and hope after recovery, which, for many, involves rebuilding a life that feels meaningful and worthwhile.

Final thoughts

The link between trauma and addiction is undeniable, but it is often understated, even though we have come a long way in understanding the interconnected nature of these disorders.

Understanding this connection can be profoundly empowering for individuals and their loved ones, helping them rebuild from a place of knowledge, particularly when both conditions are treated simultaneously.

At Centres for Health and Healing, we provide compassionate, safe, trauma-informed addiction treatment that focuses on you, the individual, including what your unique vision for recovery may look like. 

This multifaceted approach serves as the core foundation for your treatment journey and beyond.

To learn more about our trauma and addiction treatment programs in Canada, please get in touch with our professional team today, who will be happy to assist you.

Remember, you are not alone. We are in this together.