It sounds radical, but what if substance use isn’t a disorder but a survival strategy for coping with trauma, poverty, or pain? The real issue isn’t in the brain or body but what’s happened to and around them. Recovery doesn’t require another diagnosis, but rather understanding, support, and meeting people where they are. Are we ready to have that conversation?

Childhood trauma plays a significant role in the onset of adult-child syndrome. Such chronic trauma often leads to PTSD.

By Tom O’Connor and Lauren Grawert, MD, FASAM, Co-Authors Is there a recovery from Adult-Child Syndrome? Is there partial recovery?