Trauma and Addiction

Catalog description

The goal of this workshop is to deepen students’ understanding of the relationship between substance use disorders and trauma histories. In this course, students will be exposed to complex trauma disorders and current treatment models for both addiction and trauma. This workshop will broaden awareness about the biopsychosocial factors that impact trauma, addiction and relapse prevention. This workshop will also incorporate dual-diagnosing trauma-related and substance use disorders, as well as how to simultaneously treat both. Additionally, the course will address neurobiological factors that contribute to substance use and how shame perpetuates the addiction cycle. Furthermore, there will be discussion around viewing addiction through a trauma lens, thus reducing shame surrounding addiction, and how that improves treatment efficacy and outcomes.