Trauma in alcohol and other drug (AOD) treatment: Why trauma informed practice matters

A history of trauma is commonplace among people receiving alcohol and other drug treatment.

Research suggests around 80% of alcohol and other drug treatment clients have experienced at least one traumatic event, with nearly half (45%) screening positive for symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

There are a number of persistent myths about trauma recovery that can hinder how treatment and support are provided in alcohol and other drug settings. These include a concern that talking about trauma will lead to ‘retraumatising’ the person, or that people need to address alcohol and other drug problems before tackling trauma symptoms.

Recognising the prevalence of trauma and knowing how to deliver effective trauma responsive care is crucial for achieving positive outcomes for both trauma impacts and alcohol and drug use. Failing to address trauma symptoms might actually be a reason some people don’t do well in alcohol and other drug treatment.

How common is trauma and what are the effects?

Traumatic events usually involve a significant threat to a person’s life or to their physical or psychological wellbeing. Most (75%) adult Australians have been exposed to potentially traumatic events, with more than 68% of children and adolescents experiencing a potentially traumatic event by the age of 16.

Exposure to traumatic events is very common among certain vulnerable populations, including individuals experiencing homelessness and people seeking treatment for serious mental health conditions.

Most people who experience a traumatic event recover without treatment. But for some people, trauma can have significant impacts.

Trauma manifests in diverse ways, and while PTSD is a commonly discussed outcome, it is just one of many possible mental health responses. Co-occurring conditions are common; people may experience PTSD alongside depression, anxiety, and alcohol and other drug use issues, which often escalate and compound over time if left untreated.

Beyond diagnosed conditions, trauma can also lead to other psychosocial impacts, such as anger, social isolation, and employment difficulties.

Trauma and alcohol and other drug use

Alcohol and other drug use disorders are among the most common responses to trauma exposure. Alcohol and other drugs are often used as coping mechanisms for dealing with trauma symptoms.

As a short term coping strategy, alcohol and other drug use may offer some relief. But when people continue to use alcohol and drugs to cope, this tends to overlay a second set of problems.

Alcohol and drug use can also perpetuate initial trauma symptoms and complicate recovery. In this way, alcohol and other drug use and trauma can become self reinforcing.

Because of this interrelationship between alcohol and other drug use and trauma, it’s important for the alcohol and other drugs sector to be both trauma informed and trauma responsive.

Working with alcohol and other drugs and trauma involves understanding the relationship between the two and ensuring that interventions can support holistic recovery.

How we can help

In our interactive workshop, Trauma Informed Practice, you’ll learn how to deliver alcohol and other drug treatment in an effective, trauma informed way.

Walk away with practical skills that you can implement immediately:

  • Understand trauma and its impacts
  • Recognise the signs and symptoms of trauma exposure
  • Gain strategies for screening and safe exploration of trauma
  • Learn strategies to manage boundaries and maintain your wellbeing

Learn more about Trauma Informed Practice here.

Ready to take your trauma informed practice to the next level?

Trauma Inside Out: A two day masterclass is for you. You'll come away with clear frameworks for understanding trauma and an effective toolkit in this essential area of practice.

Walk away with practical skills that you can implement immediately:

  • Apply a model for responding to trauma to the specific context of alcohol and other drug treatment
  • Increase your range of sensitive responses to trauma disclosure
  • Understand how to integrate trauma into screening, assessment and treatment
  • Recognise a range of trauma related mental health conditions, signs and symptoms
  • Develop detailed case conceptualisation and treatment planning for clients with co-occurring alcohol and other drug use and trauma
  • Integrate effective approaches for stabilising trauma symptoms, so that you and your clients can get the best from their alcohol and drug treatment

Learn more about Trauma Inside Out: A two day masterclass here.