TL;DR:
- There is a powerful, scientific link between experiencing trauma and developing a substance use disorder. Many people use drugs to cope with the overwhelming emotional pain of past events.
- Opioid Agonist Treatment (OAT) is a critical first step in healing. It stabilizes your brain and body, giving you the safety and mental space needed to start addressing trauma.
- You cannot effectively heal from trauma while in the cycle of active addiction. OAT provides the foundation of stability required for trauma work to be successful.
- Arrow Medical provides compassionate, trauma-informed care, creating a safe environment where you can begin your journey of healing both the addiction and its underlying causes.
Table of Contents
- Why Is There a Link Between Trauma and Addiction?
- How Opioid Agonist Treatment (OAT) Creates the Foundation for Healing
- Beginning to Heal: What Trauma-Informed Care Looks Like
- Practical Steps You Can Take on Your Healing Journey
- Frequently Asked Questions
If you’re struggling with addiction, you may feel like you’re fighting two battles at once: the battle with substance use, and a hidden battle with painful memories and feelings from your past. You are not alone. Research shows that there is an undeniable connection between trauma and addiction.
Understanding this link is not about dwelling on the past. It’s about recognizing why you might be struggling and how you can truly begin to heal. At Arrow Medical, we provide trauma-informed care, recognizing that to treat addiction effectively, we must create a safe space for you to address its root causes.
Why Is There a Link Between Trauma and Addiction?
Trauma is an emotional response to a terrible event like an accident, assault, abuse, or natural disaster. It can leave you with long-lasting feelings of fear, anxiety, and helplessness. When these feelings are too overwhelming to manage, some people turn to substances to cope.
| What is Self-Medication? This is the act of using substances to numb or escape from the painful symptoms of an unaddressed medical issue, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, or depression stemming from trauma. |
Opioids, in particular, can temporarily blunt emotional pain, providing a fleeting sense of relief. However, this coping mechanism quickly creates a dangerous cycle. The substance use prevents you from processing the trauma, and the unresolved trauma continues to fuel the need for the substance. As our guide on the science of addiction explains, this process physically rewires the brain, making it even harder to stop.
Signs that your substance use may be linked to trauma:
- You started using substances heavily after a specific distressing event.
- You feel a sense of panic or dread when you are not using.
- You have nightmares, flashbacks, or intrusive memories of a past event.
- You avoid people, places, or situations that remind you of the trauma.
How Opioid Agonist Treatment (OAT) Creates the Foundation for Healing
It is nearly impossible to heal from trauma while you are in the chaotic cycle of active addiction. Your brain and body are in a constant state of crisis—seeking drugs, experiencing withdrawal, and managing the consequences. You simply don’t have the emotional or physical resources to do the difficult work of healing.
This is where Opioid Agonist Treatment (OAT) with medications like methadone or Suboxone is so critical.
- It Provides Physical Safety and Stability: OAT stops the painful cycle of withdrawal and cravings. By stabilizing your body, it creates a predictable, safe foundation. You are no longer in constant survival mode.
- It Creates Mental and Emotional Space: When you aren’t consumed by the need to get and use drugs, your mind becomes clearer. OAT gives you the mental energy and emotional capacity to begin processing difficult feelings and memories.
- It Restores a Sense of Control: Trauma often leaves people feeling powerless. Engaging in treatment and taking control of your health is a powerful first step in reclaiming your agency and proving to yourself that you can create change in your life.
Pull Quote: “You can’t build a house in the middle of an earthquake. OAT stops the earthquake of addiction so you can start building a foundation of healing.”
Beginning to Heal: What Trauma-Informed Care Looks Like
At Arrow Medical, we understand that many of our patients have experienced trauma. Our approach is designed to create an environment where you feel safe, respected, and in control. This is what “trauma-informed care” means in practice:
- Safety First: We prioritize creating a physically and emotionally safe environment. Our clinics are judgment-free zones where you will be treated with compassion and respect.
- Trust and Transparency: We build trust by being open and honest about your treatment. We explain what we are doing and why, and we involve you in every decision.
- Collaboration and Choice: You are the expert on your own life. We work with you as a partner in your recovery. Your goals are our goals. We offer a range of treatments, from methadone and Suboxone to Safe Opioid Supply, so you can choose the path that feels right for you.
- Empowerment: Our goal is to empower you. We focus on your strengths and help you build the skills and confidence to move forward.
Practical Steps You Can Take on Your Healing Journey
Once you are stable on OAT, you can start to take further steps to heal from trauma. Remember, this is a journey, and you can go at your own pace.
- Focus on Stability: Continue to prioritize your OAT. Attending the clinic, taking your medication as prescribed, and communicating with your doctor are the most important things you can do.
- Seek Professional Support: While Arrow Medical provides the medical foundation, specialized trauma therapy can be incredibly helpful. Ask our team for a referral to a local mental health provider or organization like the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA).
- Develop Healthy Coping Skills: Learn new ways to manage stress and difficult emotions. This could include deep breathing exercises, mindfulness, journaling, or gentle physical activity like walking.
- Build a Safe Support Network: Connect with people who support your recovery and make you feel safe. This might be a trusted family member, a friend, or a peer support group.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do I have to talk about my trauma to get treatment at Arrow Medical?
No. You are in complete control of what you share. Our primary focus is on providing medical treatment for opioid use disorder in a safe and respectful way. We apply a trauma-informed care approach to every patient seen at Arrow Medical. If you choose to share more, we are here to listen without judgment.
Q: Can I get PTSD and addiction treatment at the same time?
Yes, this is the recommended approach. Stabilizing your addiction with OAT makes therapy for PTSD more effective. Our doctors can work in collaboration with your other care providers to ensure your care is coordinated.
Q: What if I don’t feel ready to deal with my trauma yet?
That is perfectly okay. The first and most important step is getting stable on OAT. For many people, simply achieving stability and feeling safe for the first time in years is a huge part of the healing process. You can take the next steps whenever you feel ready.
Healing is possible. You don’t have to carry the weight of the past and the struggle of addiction alone. Walk into any Arrow Medical clinic today — no appointment necessary.