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Understanding Substance Abuse in Adolescents: A Primer for Mental Health Professional

Year: 2014

Numerous studies have documented a strong correlation between trauma exposure and substance abuse in young people. The most recent National Survey of Adolescents revealed that teens who had experienced physical or sexual abuse/assault were three times more likely to report past or current substance abuse than those without a history of trauma,  and surveys of adolescents receiving treatment for substance abuse have shown that more than 70% had a history of trauma exposure. The link between trauma and substance abuse is even more striking among adolescents with PTSD: studies indicate that up to 59% of young people with PTSD subsequently develop substance abuse problems.