What Does Trauma Have to Do with Opiate Addiction in Men?

Addiction is not something people find easy to discuss. Trauma can especially impact the lives of men, who may already struggle with sharing thoughts and feelings. Opiate addiction, like any substance, can pop up as a means of coping with tragedy, trauma, and difficult circumstances in a person’s past or current life. Men abuse drugs and alcohol more than women, with opioids being at the top of the list lately. Find out what trauma has to do with opiate addiction for men and how to find healing.

Treatment Issues

Men and women both experience challenges in finding appropriate treatment for addiction and substance abuse issues. This is also a challenge for mental health issues or co-occurring issues. Men may be more likely to think they don’t need treatment than women and may deny treatment is necessary. Men like to ‘fix it’ rather than seek help, so quite often men wait until things get really bad before they ask for help. Men may feel they are better off handling it alone, so they become isolated and people don’t realize they are struggling. Addiction is not about weakness, but some men think it is and feel discouraged from seeking treatment.

What Treatments Exist

The treatment for men who struggle with addiction to drugs is individual but has some similarities. Detox is often the first step to get the body free of toxins in the system. Medications may be part of addiction or co-occurring mental health issues. Therapy and counseling is also helpful for people struggling. Many therapeutic methods for men focus on coping with aggressive behavior, attitude, and anger management. Healthier outlets are explored and facilitated for recovery. Family therapy is a healthy tool for men to explore.

The key to seeking treatment is to identify what will work best for each individual person. They are likely to find help in different places. The challenge is finding the right place that supports a person’s specific issues, but it is best not to put off seeking help just to ‘wait for the right one to come along. Many programs provide similar services. If you or a loved one need help identifying support, speak to a treating physician who knows their situation or can understand which pathway to go down. Call around and speak to a few places that offer what you need so you or a loved one can begin the journey of healing in recovery. It is a journey well worth taking.

The Last Resort provides a safe, supportive environment for men in a retreat-like setting. Nature is an important component of recovery and healing. We strive to provide a place of enrichment that cultivates the inner as well as the outer journey of recovery. However you find your way to the Last Resort, we endeavor to provide a haven where you can journey through recovery feeling like your life and story have meaning and a purpose. Call us to find out more: 512-750-6750.

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