Implementing Trauma-informed Practices to Address Violence and Trauma in Addiction Recovery
Year: 2025
Type: conference-paper
Abstract: Recovery from addiction often intersects with trauma or violence, which complicates sobriety.Addiction behaviors can be exacerbated by unresolved trauma, which increases the risk of relapse and prevents full recovery from addiction.This paper aims to explore how trauma-informed practices can be integrated into addiction recovery settings to ensure emotional and psychological wounds do not impede the recovery journey.The objective of this study was to assess the implementation and effectiveness of trauma-informed practices within a Therapeutic Recovery Community (TRC) involving 58 residents.Each participant dealt with the compounded effects of trauma and addiction.The study aimed to determine how trauma-sensitive interventions could alleviate emotional distress, reduce violence-related behaviors, and help residents process past trauma, ultimately supporting long-term recovery and emotional resilience.To address these issues, trauma-sensitive counseling, mindfulness exercises, and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) were implemented, tailored to the individual needs of residents.These interventions were designed to improve emotional regulation, reduce impulsive behaviors, and promote healing.A safe and supportive community environment was also created to allow residents to openly address trauma's impact on their recovery.The study employed a mixed-methods approach, using quantitative tools such as the Trauma Symptom Inventory-2 (TSI-2) to measure trauma-related symptoms and the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BPAQ) to assess impulsive, violence-related behaviors.Qualitative data were gathered through resident interviews and focus groups, examining emotional regulation, coping strategies, and residents' sense of safety.Results indicated that 75% of participants experienced significant improvements in trauma-related symptoms, including reduced anxiety and emotional dysregulation.Significant reductions were also observed in aggression and impulsive behaviors associated with violence.Qualitative feedback revealed that residents felt more in control of their emotions and better equipped to manage triggers related to past trauma, highlighting the importance of the safe and supportive environment.This study underscores the critical role trauma-informed practices play in addressing trauma and violence in addiction recovery.By fostering a supportive environment, these practices significantly reduce trauma-related symptoms and impulsive behaviors, while promoting emotional healing and sustained sobriety.This research advocates for broader use of trauma-sensitive interventions in addiction recovery programs to enhance emotional well-being and reduce the risk of relapse.
Language: English
Subfield: Epidemiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W4410354604