“Israel Today” received data indicating a direct connection between post-trauma and excessive drug and alcohol use • The founder of the Israel Center for Addictions: “They experience a lot of suffering, and naturally they will look for ways to relieve themselves”.

On the occasion of the American post-trauma awareness day, new data from a study conducted by the Israel Center for Addictions (ICA) and obtained by Israel Hayom, point to the direct link between post-trauma and addiction of various types.

The study was conducted among approximately 2,500 people aged 18-70 who were divided into two groups – those who are dealing with post-trauma and those who are not – and it examined and compared different types of addictions, both of problematic substances and of behaviors, in the two different groups.

A clear picture emerges from the data, which indicates that post-traumatic sufferers face addictions at much higher rates.

For example: among the post-traumatic group, the rate of alcohol addiction was almost three times higher than among the group of people who do not have post-trauma; The rate of addiction to cannabis – 2.7 times; The rate of severe addiction to cannabis – more than three times; And the rate of addiction to other drugs – almost four times. It also shows that the rate of addiction to sedatives such as Valium and Xanax was almost 4.5 times higher, and the rate of addiction to prescription drugs from the opioid family, used for pain relief, was almost four times higher.

Running away from reality

Prof. Shauli Lev-Ran, founder and academic director of the Israeli Center for Addictions, says: “Many studies in the world know of a close connection between post-trauma and addictions. In post-trauma there is a great deal of suffering, and one of the most effective ways to relieve ourselves temporarily is behaviors Addictions and use of addictive substances”.

Compared to other studies in the world, the study also examined for the first time the relationship between post-trauma and behavioral addiction, and found even greater gaps between the post-traumatic group and the other group.

For example: the prevalence of gambling addiction among the post-traumatic group was more than six times higher, and in fact one out of every five people with post-traumatic stress dealt with gambling addiction. The rate of addiction to sex or porn was 22%, compared to less than 5% in the other group.

In general, the research shows that the rate of post-traumatics facing behavioral addiction is about nine times higher.

“It is important to raise awareness, so that people understand that if they are dealing with post-trauma, it is likely that they are also dealing with an addiction to alleviate the great suffering, and that they are not alone. Both problems need to be addressed together,” concludes Prof. Lev-Ran. He also added: “The problem is that over time this temporary relief becomes a habit and an addiction and causes enormous damage.”