Title : Adverse childhood experiences, post-traumatic stress, and addictions

The aim of this presentation is to examine different patterns of substance use and their association with adverse childhood experiences, post-traumatic stress, and depression. Method: A cross-sectional, analytical, comparative study was conducted among a group of individuals who completed screening instruments related to adverse childhood events, the Patient Health Questionnaire, and a questionnaire on post-traumatic stress. The sample consisted of more than 2,000 adults enrolled in higher education in Mexico. Results: Significant differences, with effect sizes close to medium, were found in depression, adverse childhood events, and post-traumatic stress among those who reported some form of addictive substance use. The results highlight the importance of the effects that contexts, family interactions, and life events have on individuals, leading them to make the decision to use substances. In particular, the effect size of adverse childhood events exceeds the medium effect size for cocaine and marijuana but becomes a large effect size for other substances. In Mexico, economic hardship also often leads to the use of alternative substances such as “chemo” or paint thinner—much cheaper ways to achieve altered states of consciousness—and this large effect is also associated with self-harm.

Dr. Jaime Sebastián is PhD in psychology, Msc. In psychology, Msc. In systemic psychotherapy. He was head of the research and postgraduate division, actually Dean of psychology  faculty in the University of San Luis Potosí. He has 19 years as psychotherapist and has written more than 30 papers, four books and 10 books chapters.