TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCES AND SUBSTANCE-ABUSE - MAPPING THE TERRITORY

This article examines the relationships between various types of traum atic experiences and addictive behavior, with an eye to formulating ef fective treatment strategies. Interventions in the posttraumatic stres s disorder (PTSD) and related fields are reviewed in an effort to unde rstand how best to integrate them into substance abuse treatment. The recovery-oriented therapy model is used as a framework to define treat ment tasks at each stage of the recovery process: how one addresses pa inful issues depends on the objective, given the recovery stage at han d. These tasks include making a commitment to abstinence, stopping alc ohol and other drug use, consolidating abstinence and changing lifesty les, and addressing short- and long-term psychosocial issues. The arti cle focuses on the clinical features of PTSD in an effort to enhance t he practitioner's ability to address this disorder within the context of substance abuse treatment. Finally, recommendations are offered for training practitioners at varying skill levels in the addiction treat ment field.