Trauma in the childhood stories of people who have injected drugs

Abstract

Aim: To document childhood trauma in the life stories of people who have injected drugs. Method: Fifty-five participants (38 m, 17 f) recruited via Scottish recovery networks, who had injected drugs in the previous five years, were interviewed by peer researchers using the Life Story method. Results: Remembered childhood trauma included persistent violence, repeated sexual abuse, neglect and traumatic bereavements. Many traumas were related to adult alcohol use. Few participants told of no trauma, some of severe trauma contributing to subsequent drug problems, some recounted stories including traumatic events, but not linked to later drug problems. A few told of initial severe behavioural problems leading to trauma for the child and to drug problems. Drug problems followed trauma by various routes, without straightforward cause and effect: direct use of drugs as avoidant coping; juvenile heavy recreational use that escalated; forming relationships in mid to late teens with criminals. For men, this involved enmeshment in drug dealing, crime and prison. Some women formed relationships with men who injected drugs, who often introduced them to drugs, and some of whom were violently abusive. Heroin injecting was an effective means of blotting out distressing thoughts and feelings. Although, childhood stories also contained positive memories, factors that might have promoted resilience were rarely mentioned. Conclusions: Severe childhood trauma was common and gravitated people towards problem drug use via various pathways. Participants had often normalised the problems and did not remember adult help. Parental alcohol use contributed to trauma. Addiction services need to be more trauma minded.

Keywords:

• Heroin
• drug dependence
• drug injecting
• trauma
• post-traumatic stress disorder
• recovery

Acknowledgements

Richard Hammersley led on designing the research, training the fieldworkers, analysing the data and writing up the findings.

Phil Dalgarno assisted on analysing the data and writing up the findings.

Sean McCollum had overall management responsibility for the project and led on planning the logistics of fieldworker recruitment and data collection, and assisted on writing up the findings.

Marie Reid assisted on interpreting and writing up the findings.

Yvonne Strike led on training and supervising the fieldworkers and on the planning and organisation of the fieldwork, she also assisted in the interpreting and writing up of the findings.

Austin Smith assisted on interpreting and writing up the findings.

Jason Wallace, Audrey Smart and Moria Jack conducted the research interviews and assisted on interpreting and writing up the findings.

Dave Liddell directed the research team, assisted on designing the research and on interpreting and writing up the findings.

We would also like to thank three other fieldworkers who collected data but did not contribute further to the research.

Declaration of interest

This research was funded by the Big Lottery Research Fund.

Notes

¹Dan McAdam (http://www.sesp.northwestern.edu/foley/instruments/interview/, accessed 1/12/10). Adapted by Richard Hammersley and Scottish Drugs Forum Volunteer Researchers 1/12/2010 & 2/2/2011

¹Dan McAdam (http://www.sesp.northwestern.edu/foley/instruments/interview/, accessed 1/12/10). Adapted by Richard Hammersley and Scottish Drugs Forum Volunteer Researchers 1/12/2010 & 2/2/2011