TO WHAT EXTENT HAS THE DEPENDENCE ON ALCOHOL AND DRUGS AS A FORM OF “SELF-MEDICATION” CAUSED MORE HARM THAN HEALING WHEN RECOVERING FROM CHILDHOOD TRAUMA?

Abstract

The harmful impact of alcohol or drugs dependency on an individual’s physiological, sociological, and mental state is highly recognized and common knowledge within today’s society; thus, it is reasonable to start with the premise - one that is popularly believed and widely proven - that alcohol and drug dependency, which more often than not lead to addiction, is much more destructive than it is helpful. This research aims to explore, evaluate and conclude the impact of alcohol and drug reliance - comprehending if depending upon substances thoroughly harms an individual affected by childhood trauma or if there exists an underlying need that explains the acts of many who have fallen into it. This paper primarily examines the effects of drugs and alcohol substantially through comparisons established by the statistical and analytical studies that were undertaken while taking into account key variables. One prominent variable is accessibility. Understanding the extent to which this or other forms of recovery methods are accessible within a given scenario is crucial when deciding whether alcohol or drug dependency is the only or, in some cases, the best step that an individual can take to relieve the repercussions of childhood trauma. Further highlighting the understanding of how trauma can make one feel physically and emotionally unsafe and its paralyzing long-term repercussions, causing individuals with little to no choice but to self-medicate through alcohol and drugs to find emotional support. In a broader context, this paper is constructed to further explore the correlation between childhood trauma and drug or alcohol dependencies, with a potential cause-effect relationship. Statistically, more than a third of young children with reports of maltreatment or neglect will establish a drug or alcohol dependence before turning 18 years old.