April 2004

The Damaging Consequences of Violence & Trauma: Facts, Discussion Points, &  Recommendations for the Behavioral Health System

This report was prepared for several national mental health agencies as a compilation of evidence to inform the mental health community about trauma and to generate interest in trauma as a public health and public policy issue. The report collected the following statistics about mental health, substance abuse, trauma, and treatment:

• Up to two-thirds of men and women entering substance abuse treatment suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

• Individuals diagnosed with substance abuse disorders and PTSD, compared with those without a diagnosis of PTSD, are more likely to use inpatient and outpatient services and often seek medical rather than mental health or substance abuse treatment

• Both mental health and substance abuse providers may be investing significant effort providing services that are only partially related to their clients' underlying causes of need

• 75% of women in treatment programs for drug and alcohol abuse report having been sexually abused

• Adults abused during childhood are more than twice as likely as those not abused during childhood to abuse substances

• Consumers with trauma histories are often re-traumatized in psychiatric inpatient units and other settings when subjected to restraint and seclusion.

The author also made the following recommendations:

• Develop and implement educational programs for educators and health care professionals to identify high-risk (abused) youth and offer counseling regarding their vulnerability to substance abuse

• Train mental health and substance abuse treatment providers to assess clients/consumers for abuse/trauma histories and provide or refer to experienced trauma services