Other influences Children brought up in environments where substance use is prevalent are more likely to mimic the behavior. Peer pressure from family and friends, especially during teen years, heightens susceptibility to drug use which can last into adulthood. Gibson also believes socioeconomic factors are significant contributors. A lower quality of life may lead to more direct exposure to harmful substances, because high-stress environments could promote self-medicating. “Living in a poor urban neighborhood can feel like a war [zone] sometimes,” Gibson says. “It’s hazardous living in a place where you’re constantly exposed to drugs or dangerous activities.They feel trapped and don’t have the financial means to get out of it.” Though circumstances of underprivileged environments can contribute to use, Gibson warns against forming any blanket judgements about drug users, emphasizing that she’s worked with clients of all backgrounds and economic status. “It’s important to understand that addiction is a disease which can affect anyone. I’ve seen people from all walks of life going through the struggles of addiction,” she says.
Traumatic roots Trauma is at the root of most addiction, according to Gibson. A trauma is an experience that negatively impacts a person’s sense of safety or stability.The disturbance produces physical, emotional and psychological distress. “For 99% of our patients, drugs serve an emotional purpose,” Gibson explains. “They’re self-medicating to cope with a severe situation they have been through.” Several studies have found traumatic experiences increase the likelihood of addiction, specifically if endured during childhood. Gibson believes the stigma surrounding substance abuse leads some sufferers to ignore their addiction and suppress the emotional root that led them to use in the first place. “How can we expect addiction patients to acknowledge their trauma when we live in a society that doesn’t even properly
acknowledge PTSD for our war veterans who have experienced so much trauma,” Gibson says. Once desensitization occurs, internal and external harm magnifies without users being aware about the severity of their problem.Though the addiction and trauma are not consciously linked by the sufferer, substance abuse can serve as a temporary way to numb pain, create a sense of empowerment and relieve anxieties. Repression of pain is a common thread in patients. Even those who are battling suicidal thoughts have revealed to Gibson that their true wish was to end overwhelming pain rather than actually hurt themselves. Counselors at Fresh Start Comprehensive Center help clients uncover possible underlying traumas beneath their drug use. They teach systematic techniques to manage impulse responses in a healthy way which allows clients in the long run to take control of their own recovery.
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