Child abuse is a tragic and unfortunate occurrence that happens to many people as they are growing up. Depending on the circumstances, the exact impact of such abuse can lead to physical, psychological, behavioral, and societal consequences for the child – some of which can last throughout their lifetime. Children who suffer any type of abuse have an increased likelihood of struggling with substance abuse later in life.
Potential Consequences of Child Abuse
Any form of abuse can be a traumatic experience for the victim, but children are especially vulnerable to these impacts. Physical and verbal abuse, as well as neglect, can have an adverse effect on children’s health and mental development because they are still developing. It is common for victims of child abuse to have cognitive difficulties or exhibit signs of other mental illnesses, such as depression and PTSD.
As children grow, those who have gone through abuse or neglect are more likely to engage in acts of juvenile delinquency and adult criminal behavior. In addition, many have poor coping mechanisms and may not receive proper emotional support, due to their abusive situations.
Combining these risk factors with the higher inclination during adolescence to experiment with drugs and alcohol, victims of child abuse are much more likely to start substance use early. Those who start to use substances in their teen years are psychologically and physiologically much more likely to engage in substance abuse and experience addiction when compared to those who start later in life.
Child abuse can take many different forms, and last for varying amounts of time. Proper emotional support and care during the aftermath will impact the likelihood of experiencing any type of consequences. Generally, more severe abuse leads to longer lasting effects. Proper care following abuse can help prevent later substance abuse and addiction.
Reasons Why Child Abuse Victims May Turn to Alcohol and Drugs
While not all who suffer from substance addiction have suffered child abuse, many have. In one study, a sample indicated that 84% of the patients suffering from some form of addiction had a history of child abuse or neglect. Though the sample size was relatively small, it clearly showed a correlation between the two.
Coping
Many who turn to drugs and alcohol do so as a form of coping mechanism for their abuse. In many cases, abuse comes from parents and caretakers, who fail to fulfill the role of proper emotional support for their children. As a result, children don’t learn how to rely on others, instead turning to unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as alcohol and drugs.
Depression is also a common consequence for those who have suffered child abuse or neglect. Even without a history of suffering abuse, those with depression are more likely to turn to substances to handle their problems. However, because alcohol and drugs only serve to cover the underlying issues, their use can quickly turn to abuse and addiction over time.
Antisocial Behaviors
For some victims of child abuse, the result can be an exhibition of aggressive and antisocial behaviors. Violence, hyperactivity, and delinquency can manifest throughout a victim’s life, which in turn drives off healthy social interactions. Instead, they fall in with groups of people who may encourage harmful behavior, like substance abuse.
The abuser’s behavior can also impact a victim’s relationship to substance use. Alcoholism and drug use can both be factors that lead to abusive actions on the part of caretakers. This exposes children to substances and addiction at an early age. Along with behavioral influences, many children of alcoholics have a higher chance of becoming alcoholics themselves due to genetic factors.
PTSD
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can result from any high stress situation, and victims of child abuse are likely to experience this mental illness. Some symptoms include dreams and flashbacks to the trauma, hyper-vigilance, and avoidance of people, places, and items associated with the trauma. PTSD is especially prevalent in victims of child sexual abuse.
Much as with depression, alcohol and drugs can serve as coping mechanisms for the symptoms of PTSD. Even without a PTSD diagnosis, victims of childhood sexual abuse have a much higher risk of substance abuse. Those with PTSD are twice as likely to show signs of alcoholism as victims without PTSD. One study found that victims of sexual abuse at any age are:
· Three times more likely to use marijuana
· Six times more likely to use cocaine
· Ten times more likely to use other types of drugs
These results are especially prevalent in women who experienced sexual abuse as a child, though men can still experience the same symptoms.
Overcoming Substance Abuse Related to Childhood Abuse
While research has uncovered a correlation between suffering child abuse and experiencing alcoholism and drug addiction later in life, there are still several more areas to uncover. Due to the studies conducted, there’s much more evidence suggesting the likelihood of substance abuse in child abuse victims for women than there is for men. The issue of whether child abuse directly causes substance abuse, or if it merely leads to other factors which then serve as the grounds for drug and alcohol use requires further research.
Whatever the correlation, many child abuse victims do engage in substance use, which can later turn into abuse and addiction. When striving to overcome substance abuse, it’s important not only to treat the physical symptoms that result from drug use, but also to encourage new, healthier behaviors and address the underlying factors that led to substance use in the first place.
For victims of child abuse, addressing the relationship between this trauma and addiction can be essential for successful detox and rehabilitation. Without touching on these subjects at all, it’s very easy for a patient to relapse after leaving rehabilitation.
At Windmill Wellness Ranch, we recognize the unique challenges that patients who have gone through child abuse have when overcoming their addictions. We work to help you detox and understand the underlying factors of your addiction, while providing you with life skills that will help you succeed once you finish your program. No matter how long it takes, you can count on Windmill Wellness Ranch to take all of your rehabilitation needs into consideration – not just your addiction.
Created specifically for those who have loved ones that struggle with addiction.