Substance Abuse and Trauma -- Sad Truths
Jul 19, 2012
Previously in my posts I highlighted the research report of Professor Kate Scott of the University of Otago, comparing prospective and retrospective sources of data, linking experience of trauma during childhood and later development of mental health and substance abuse, especially depression and drug abuse. I'm still in touch with developments in substance use disorder research in my home country Australia and today there was a report of a recent study -- [LINK] -- led by Glenys Dore and Katherine Mills of the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre at the University of New South Wales. This study found that upwards of 80 per cent of patients admitted to pschiatric hospitals with diagnoses of depression and suicidal ideation, aggravated by active substance use disorder, have histories of childhood trauma. Dr Mills, in a radio interview with Wendy Harmer on Australia Radio National -- accessible here -- [LINK] -- actually reports that the 80 per cent figure is actually a "conservative estimate" with the actual incidence of childhood trauma experienced by such patients likely to be even higher. Of crucial significance, Dr Mills points out, is that most of these patients had never previously been assessed, let alone received treatment, for such trauma.
I have previously worked in the AOD sector in New Zealand, and still "take part" in the Alcohol and Drug Discussion List Aandd Digest -- [LINK]. Approximately a year ago I put a request over the list asking for opinions as to whether (a) people in A&D Services (most commonly called Alcohol & OTHER Drugs Services) customarily asked about clients' histories of trauma and (b) if such services had a standard practice of asking about, and dealing with such history. I received only four replies -- only one said they "commonly" asked about such history (though this wasn't a practice all within that agency had) and NO ONE had a standard practice or policy about asking about and dealing with history of trauma -- clearly this is an area of practice that SHOULD BE but IS NOT.
In my last email I wrote that we ARE moving towards knowing what SHOULD BE basic essential standards of practice for trauma-related disorders in mental health settings. Clearly there are also practices that SHOULD BE standard in substance use counselling services but are NOT, NOT in Australia, and certainly NOT in New Zealand -- if you care about this complain, to your Health Service, to the Health and Disability Commissioner, and to your Member of Parliament.