PTSD and Substance Abuse
The National Institute on Drug Abuse says that an emerging body of research has documented a very strong association between Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and substance abuse. In most cases, substance use begins after the exposure to trauma and the development of PTSD, thus making PTSD a risk factor for drug abuse.
PTSD stands for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, which is an anxiety disorder that can develop after a person has been exposed to a terrifying event or ordeal in which grave physical harm occurred or was threatened. PTSD can occur in people of any age, including children and adolescents. Symptoms of PTSD can include re-experience of the trauma; emotional numbness; avoidance of people, places, and thoughts connected to the event; and arousal, which may include trouble sleeping, exaggerated startle response, and hyper-vigilance.
One study showed an increase in the use of tobacco, alcohol and marijuana in New York City after the 9/11 Attacks.
- 3.3% of respondents reported starting tobacco use for the first time the week following the 9/11 attack.
- 19.3% of respondents reported starting alcohol consumption for the first time the week following the 9/11 attack.
- 2.5% of respondents reported starting marijuana usage for the first time the week following the 9/11 attack.
- 41.2% of respondents reported an increase in tobacco usage following the 9/11 attack.
- 41.7% of respondents reported an increase in alcohol consumption following the 9/11 attack.
Another study of 84 men and women in an inpatient substance abuse treatment program found that 43% of women and 12% of men met criteria for PTSD.
Early intervention to help children and adolescents who have suffered trauma from violence or a disaster is critical. Children who witness or are exposed to a traumatic event and are clinically diagnosed with PTSD have a greater likelihood for developing later drug and/or alcohol use disorders.
Of individuals with substance use disorders, 30 to 60 percent meet the criteria for co-occurring PTSD, something also considered “Dual Diagnosis .” Patients with substance abuse disorders tend to suffer from more severe PTSD symptoms than do PTSD patients without substance use disorders.
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