When it comes to substance use disorder (SUD) or substance abuse (SA) for many individuals the under-lying factors are complicated and varied. When an individual decides to get help for their addiction often practitioners are focused on treating the addiction of the individual instead of trying to identify any underlying factors that may have led to an addiction in the first place. One major underlying factor contributing to SUD is posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). As Souza and Spates state in the 2008 Treatment of PTSD and
Substance Abuse Comorbidity, “Approximately 50% of individuals with PTSD also meet criteria for substance abuse Disorder” (11). Such significant figures of comorbid PTSD and
SUD show that personalised integrated …show more content…
Given the known part that PTSD plays in developing a SUD indicates there is a need for a comprehensive assessment before initiating a treatment plan.
In the past, treatment for SUD and PTSD were treated separately. One theory that backs the separate treatment approach is the Pandora’s Box hypotheses. “The Pandora’s Box hypotheses states that any attempt to address trauma related material in the incipient stages of substance dependant treatment would severely interfere with treatment effectiveness” (Souza et al 17). Therefore clinicians would solely be attending to the SUD and not the PTSD.
Clinicians who follow the Pandora’s Box theory believe “In essence, “Pandora’s Box” would be opened and neither the client nor the therapist would be capable of dealing with resultant effects” (Souza et al 18). Such an approach heightens the chance of an individual returning to the use of substances as they haven’t had the opportunity to deal with the trauma or understand the trauma that has subsequently led the individual to developing a SUD.
There is a need to develop an integrated treatment that will deal with both PTSD-SUD with a safe and supportive approach. Najivitz states in the 2012 Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Substance Abuse Comorbidity, “Approximately 50% of individuals with PTSD also meet criteria for substance abuse Disorder” (11). Such significant figures of comorbid PTSD and
SUD show that personalised integrated …show more content…
Given the known part that PTSD plays in developing a SUD indicates there is a need for a comprehensive assessment before initiating a treatment plan.
In the past, treatment for SUD and PTSD were treated separately. One theory that backs the separate treatment approach is the Pandora’s Box hypotheses. “The Pandora’s Box hypotheses states that any attempt to address trauma related material in the incipient stages of substance dependant treatment would severely interfere with treatment effectiveness” (Souza et al 17). Therefore clinicians would solely be attending to the SUD and not the PTSD.
Clinicians who follow the Pandora’s Box theory believe “In essence, “Pandora’s Box” would be opened and neither the client nor the therapist would be capable of dealing with resultant effects” (Souza et al 18). Such an approach heightens the chance of an individual returning to the use of substances as they haven’t had the opportunity to deal with the trauma or understand the trauma that has subsequently led the individual to developing a SUD.
There is a need to develop an integrated treatment that will deal with both PTSD-SUD with a safe and supportive approach. Najivitz states in the 2012 Post Traumatic Stress Disorder