IT’S COMPLICATED AND SAD –
Oct. 31, 2023 – Research has illuminated a significant connection between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use disorder (SUD), underscoring the intricate relationship between these conditions. Several studies (here, here, here, and here) have shed light on this comorbidity, revealing that individuals with PTSD are at a heightened risk of developing substance abuse issues, alongside other mental health disorders.
A study by Breslau and colleagues, in particular, offered noteworthy insights. They found that exposure to traumatic experiences, when coupled with PTSD symptomology, was associated with an increased risk of substance problems. Moreover, this correlation appears to be particularly potent among adolescents grappling with PTSD. Astonishingly, up to 59 percent of young individuals diagnosed with PTSD subsequently develop substance abuse problems. Interestingly, this connection seems to be even more pronounced in girls.
