Psychiatrists assessed how negative childhood experiences influence the development of alcohol and drug addictions

Most Russians with drug or alcohol addiction had adverse experiences related to violence in childhood. This conclusion was reached by experts from the National Medical Research Center for Psychiatry and Narcology named after. V.P. Serbsky, who in 2017–2022 surveyed patients of the rehabilitation centers of the Clinic of Dr. Isaev. In society as a whole, the level of violence is growing, the researchers also note: if in 2019, 75% of surveyed patients witnessed fights, then in 2022 – 86%; 28% witnessed a threat to life in 2019, and in 2022 – already 42%. Psychiatrists warn that an unfavorable life scenario directly affects the development of addiction to alcohol and drugs.

From 2017 to 2022, representatives of the National Medical Research Center for Psychiatry and Narcology named after. V.P. Serbsky, together with the private psychiatric Clinic of Dr. Isaev, conducted research on the causes of addiction to alcohol and drugs, in which 100 patients from four rehabilitation centers took part. Among the rehabilitators there were 68% men and 32% women. The average age of the subjects was 28.9 years. The specialists were interested in the influence of external factors on the formation of addictions in people at risk – violence in society, the impact of collective violence, as well as intra-family factors (adverse childhood experiences).

Experiences of violence appear to be widespread among those undergoing drug and alcohol addiction recovery. Moreover, recently there are more and more such people: in 2019, 58% of those studied participated in fights, and in 2022 – 81%. 75% of respondents witnessed fights in 2019 and 86% in 2022. Witnesses of a threat to life were 28% in 2019, and 42% in 2022. Experts also talk about the growing impact of collective violence: in 2019, 15% of the rehabilitation participants studied had experience of the death of a friend or family member as a result of violence, and in 2022 – 18%. 76.5% of rehabilitation residents were subjected to bullying (emotional abuse) in 2022, while in 2019 – 65%.

Psychiatrists paid special attention to the role of negative childhood experiences in the formation of addictions. They clarify that a traumatic scenario in a child under 18 years of age includes emotional, physical, and sexual violence; emotional and physical neglect; family dysfunction – domestic violence, alcohol or drug abuse by loved ones, mental illness or suicide of a family member, imprisonment.

To study negative childhood experiences, the Adverse Childhood Experience questionnaire was used, which is also used in similar foreign studies. The majority of rehabilitation therapists acknowledged the presence of traumatic events in childhood and adolescence: 90% had at least one such incident. More than a third (41%) had four or more cases (34% of men and 63% of women). The most common was alcohol or drug abuse by one or more family members, reported by 55% of men and 71% of women surveyed. Half of the rehabilitation participants (50% of men and 54% of women) experienced emotional abuse, and 41% of men and 58% of women experienced parental divorce. 34% of men and 63% of women experienced deprivation or emotional coldness, lack of interest in themselves as a child and teenager. 8% of men and 33% of women surveyed had experienced sexual violence. Overall, the study authors note, the prevalence of all categories of negative childhood experiences was higher among women than among men.

A more detailed study of childhood trauma demonstrated the widespread prevalence of domestic violence in the families of rehabilitators, which they witnessed. The most common was verbal violence, which was denied by only one in five (21.8%). 8.9% of respondents witnessed a parent or family member being shouted at, scolded, insulted, or humiliated in the home once, and 29.7% witnessed it several times. This was a constant problem in relationships in 38.6% of families of rehabilitators. Physical violence in the family was observed by more than half (50.5%), of which 8.9% observed it once, 29.7% several times, and 38.6% many times. Physical violence in the family with the use of objects and weapons was observed in the families of 12% of respondents.

Psychiatrist, narcologist, head of Dr. Isaev’s Clinic and a network of rehabilitation centers Ruslan Isaev says that research results prove the influence of negative childhood experiences on the formation of personality and an increase in the risks of starting to use psychoactive substances. “In addition, today the level of violence in society as a whole is increasing, which can be seen even in the example of bullying in schools and child abuse in the family,” comments Mr. Isaev. “Increasing awareness of the impact of adverse childhood experiences should become an important component of self-education parents and school educators who can prevent the horrific consequences of childhood trauma.”

Evgeniy Fomin, head of the mental health department at the medical technology company Doctor Nearby, does not believe that the level of violence in society has increased. In his opinion, the number of ways to diagnose moods in society has increased. “A person who has experienced an adverse experience in childhood has several scenarios for the development of their life path: avoidance of society, mental illness, addiction, or the use of the experience gained to improve life circumstances,” points out Mr. Fomin. “That is, not necessarily people who experienced an adverse experience in childhood , go into aggression or addiction. On the contrary, many receive motivation to improve their lives.” Psychiatrist and psychotherapist at the Doctis telemedicine service Elena Burdelova confirms that the contribution of one or another factor to the development of addiction can vary greatly among different patients. “In practice, I often come across histories of childhood violence in patients with depressive and anxiety disorders who do not have addictions. And this is precisely the role of a psychiatrist or psychotherapist – to recognize this influence, its degree and help a person cope with it,” concludes Ms. Burdelova.

Natalia Kostarnova