Looking at Substance Abuse through a Trauma-Informed Lens


Anjou Parekh (she) is a licensed professional clinical counselor and works as a mental health counselor within Health Services at MiraCosta College. She holds a Master of Health Sciences in International Health, as well as a Master of Science in Counseling. She assists students facing a wide range of issues, including trauma, grief and loss, anxiety, depression, relationship issues, and other life transitions. Anjou is passionate about trauma-informed care, which is an approach to providing services and support that acknowledges the impact of trauma on people's lives.

What is Trauma?

Trauma refers to our response to a distressing event(s) that is beyond our ability to cope or understand. Traumatic events can include physical or emotional abuse, natural disasters, accidents, violence, and other situations that threaten our physical or psychological well-being. Traumatic events can also be less severe, such as ongoing stressors or events that are not necessarily life-threatening; however, these events can still have an impact.

How are Trauma and Substance Use Connected?

When we are exposed to traumatic experiences, our emotional and psychological well-being can be significantly impacted. As a way to cope with the emotional pain and distress, some of us may turn to substance use as a way to cope or self-medicate.

What is Trauma-Informed Care?

Trauma-informed care is an approach that helps create a safer and supportive environment by understanding the trauma history of individuals and therefore working toward a deeper healing and recovery.

Our Health Services at MiraCosta College are trauma-informed, as we are aware that many students who seek mental health counseling have experienced various forms of trauma which can affect their emotional, psychological, and physical well-being.

How Can We Use a Trauma-Informed Approach for Substance Abuse?

We believe that a trauma-informed approach to understanding and working with substance abuse is needed to effectively treat and support those students who want to recover.

Substance abuse is often a temporary escape from the challenging emotions of trauma. Alcohol, drugs, and other substances can give us a false sense of relief and temporarily numb the pain. However, this way of coping can often turn into addiction.

We work with our students to help them feel safer and supported.

  • We encourage open communication and offer choices which can help people get a sense of control in their journey of recovery.
  • When we meet with students, we learn about their trauma history since we believe that trauma can be an underlying cause of substance abuse.
  • We can use therapies that specifically work on healing trauma. This approach, combined with referrals to addiction treatment programs, can help the chances of successful recovery since we are addressing both the causes and the effects of the trauma.
  • We can help students understand the connection between their trauma and their substance abuse which often helps them to notice their behaviors and motivation when using.
  • We can provide alternatives to coping with traumatic emotions and triggers, which can help students reduce their use of substances.
  • We can create an environment that is non-judgmental and caring, so that students can build their self-confidence needed to recover.
Understanding substance abuse through a trauma-informed lens in essential for effective prevention and treatment. Once we can understand and accept the link between trauma and substance abuse, we can take the first step toward addressing some of the underlying causes of addiction and support students in their healing.

For more information, questions, and support, please call us at Health Services at 760-795-6675, email us at mccshs@miracosta.edu, or stop by room 3326 in Oceanside or 917 at San Elijo. We offer 6 free sessions during the semester, and drop-in appointments during the semester and during breaks for enrolled students.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Understanding Interpersonal Violence: A Call to Action for National Coming Out Day and LGBTQPIA2S+ History Month

Image
By Van Ethan Levy, LMFT 118131, LPCC 8269  Van is a queer, non-binary, trans, AFAB (Assigned Female at Birth), POC (Person of Color), dually licensed as a Marriage and Family Therapist and a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor. Van is passionate about holding space for all intersections of one’s identity(ies). Van is dedicated to social justice & believes it is vital to cultivate an awareness of our own internal strengths, specifically our resilience as we continue to grow and discover ourselves. Van also provides trainings on trans and non-binary identities and is author of the interactive book Exploring My Identity(ies) (2020). As we approach National Coming Out Day on October 11th and celebrate LGBTQPIA2S+ History Month, it’s crucial to shed light on a pervasive issue that often goes unnoticed: Interpersonal Violence (IPV). Many individuals may not recognize the signs of healthy versus unhealthy dynamics in relationships. IPV can take many forms, including physic...
Read more

Here’s why you shouldn’t test for COVID

Image
  By Kim Marquardt, RN MSN This blog post is from the Nurse Kim archives of myth busting. I want to share some "alternative" or maybe just lesser known health and wellness viewpoints for you to chew on. *These posts are not intended as official medical advice. They ARE meant to be fun, informative, and thought provoking, hopefully sparking an interest for you to do your own research (you can start with the links I provide!) and discover the marvels of the human body, and how it can function at its optimal performance level if we understand how it works and interacts with our environment and our diet. I have a passion for health and wellness through lifestyle and nutrition and have done thousands of hours of research in addition to being a registered nurse for 23 years. I have done A LOT of self-experimentation in and around diet, lifestyle, body care, and supplementation and have spent a lot of time looking into the science behind it all (or lack thereof!). Check back weekly ...
Read more

TWO QUESTIONS: Adela Sanchez on Narcan Trainings

Image
TWO QUESTIONS FOR Adela Sanchez on Narcan Training  1.       What led you to bring Narcan training to MiraCosta? Narcan (naloxone) training in community colleges, especially when provided by a nurse, offers numerous benefits. As someone who grew up in this community being able to offer training for students, faculty, and staff is especially important to me. There are so many obstacles in healthcare so when there are opportunities for free programs and resources, I am immediately drawn to them. Empowering community members, especially in a college setting, fosters a sense of responsibility and community care. Trained individuals can act confidently in emergencies, contributing to a safer environment for everyone! I’ve seen too many accidents turn fatal so anything we can do to help is worth it. ·          Narcan equips us with the ability to respond swiftly to opioid overdoses. This can save lives in situation...
Read more