Treatment

Native Americans experience violence twice as often as the average American. The National Institute of Mental Health found that exposure to trauma (physical, sexual, or emotional abuse) leads to:

• Problems regulating your emotions, 
• Issues with re-traumatization, 
• Increased risk of substance abuse

Studies have found that without proper Arizona addiction treatment, exposure to childhood abuse or early trauma makes you almost two times more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol. 

Trauma can include experiencing abuse in childhood, being neglected at home, having a family member who is incarcerated, living with parents who have been the victims of domestic violence, or having food insecurity.

According to the American Psychological Association, a common cause of addiction is your genes. Scientific studies have found that specific genes are linked to higher levels of alcoholism.

Having a genetic predisposition that makes it difficult for your body to respond to stress safely and healthily increases your risk of turning to drugs and alcohol when faced with stressful situations. Stressful situations can include severe poverty, environmental abuse, or trauma.

Specific genes associated with higher levels of alcoholism or substance abuse mean that if you have multiple family members with drinking or drug problems, you might be predisposed to developing addiction yourself.

Environmental factors can contribute to the risk of drug and alcohol abuse. If another family member abuses drugs or alcohol in the home, it can lead to normalization. You are more likely to need addiction treatment in Arizona if your family regularly struggles with addiction and mental health issues.

Having an unstable living environment or living in regular poverty can significantly increase young children and teenagers’ risk of abusing drugs and alcohol later in life.

Over seven million people struggle with co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders. For some, the addiction came first; for others, the mental health disorder came first. 

There is a significant relationship between mental health disorders and substance abuse problems. Many people with mental health disorders who don’t receive treatment turn to drugs and alcohol to self-medicate. This is especially prevalent among Native American communities and poor communities where inadequate mental health resources prevail.