| Two significant issues impacting mental health among Americans are substance use and exposure to traumatic events, particularly in adolescent populations who are at greater risk for traumatic exposure due to their dependence on caregivers. The current exploratory study considered childhood traumatic stress exposure in adolescents seeking mental health and/or substance abuse services in Kentucky. Participants (ages ranged 12--17 years; N = 50) were derived from an archival database compiled by a community mental health center utilizing the Global Appraisal of Individual Needs (GAIN)-I Full. Research questions examined in the study included (1) prevalence of comorbid severe substance use and trauma exposure, (2) age of first trauma, (3) prevalence of abuse history, (4) prevalence of extensive abuse histories, (5) prevalence of sexual abuse histories, and (6) prevalence of multiple exposure to trauma in adolescents seeking substance use treatment. The results revealed rich information about adolescent exposure to trauma and their substance use, such as the increased likelihood of a trauma history for adolescents who meet criteria for severe substance use and an average age of 5.7 years for first trauma exposure. A weak to moderate positive relationship was detected between severe substance use and history of exposure to trauma. Future directions for research and implications for concerned community members are explored. |
