Overlapping Issues: Domestic & Sexual Violence, Mental Health, Trauma & Substance Use

Many persons with substance use disorders have multiple vulnerabilities. Professionals must know the correlations, implications, and ramifications of these intersections. Clients have often experienced traumas, including domestic violence or sexual assault. Survivors of these crimes also experience trauma reactions such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Some have pre-existing conditions, while others develop them as a result of the traumas. Many have turned to addictive substances to cope with ongoing abuse or traumatic memories of prior abuses. Best practices require competency to address substance use disorders and these vulnerabilities. This session will discuss overlapping concerns and hope to address them in partnership with victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.

Learning Objectives

• Gain an understanding of the complex intersections of trauma, mental health conditions and substance use disorders in clients who are victims or survivors of domestic violence or sexual assault.
• Acquire knowledge about how to interact with and assist persons with substance use disorders clients who are victims or survivors of domestic violence or sexual assault struggling with trauma reactions and mental health concerns.
• Learn about appropriate resources and referrals for clients with substance use disorders who are victims or survivors of domestic violence or sexual assault with trauma reactions and/or mental health concerns.

Who Should Attend

Addiction professionals, employee assistance professionals, social workers, mental health counselors, professional counselors, psychologists, and other helping professionals that are interested in learning about addiction-related matters.