Substance use disorders as a cause and consequence of childhood abuse

Substance use disorders (SUDs) belong to the most frequent behavioural consequences of childhood abuse and neglect (CAN). In community samples, about 20 % of adults with experiences of abuse or neglect in childhood have a lifetime diagnosis of an SUD. About 30 % of individuals seeking treatment for a post-traumatic disorder have an SUD and 24-67 % of all patients in treatment for an SUD have a history of CAN. About 16 % of all children and adolescents under the age of 20 in Germany grow up in families where an alcohol- and/or drug-dependence is present. The children of parents with SUDs have, in addition to other risks to their development in cognitive and psychosocial domains, an increased risk of experiencing violence and neglect. Regarding both perspectives, SUD as a cause and as a consequence of CAN, a better understanding of relevant mediators and risk factors is necessary to improve prevention and develop adequate treatments. The aims of the BMBF-funded research network CANSAS are: <OrderedList> <ListItem> <ItemNumber>1.</ItemNumber> <ItemContent> <Para>To gain a better understanding of the relationships between these two important public health problems (basic research), To provide evidence-based treatments for survivors of CAN with SUDs and to increase the awareness for the necessity to diagnose CAN in patients with SUDs in counselling and treatment facilities (research on diagnostics and therapy), To improve the systematic evaluation of child welfare among children of parents with SUDs through counselling services and to promote links between addiction services and youth welfare services (prevention research and health services research). In a multidisciplinary approach, the CANSAS network brings together experts in the fields of trauma treatment, epidemiology, basic research, health services research, prevention research as well as addiction services.