Addiction Recovery Often Overlooks PTSD

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS) and PTSD share many of the same symptoms, making it difficult to properly diagnose and treat patients struggling with addiction. Trauma is common among those with substance use disorders, yet PTSD is often overlooked or misattributed to PAWS. Proper assessment and treatment of PTSD alongside addiction can lead to more sustained recovery, but stigma surrounding addiction often prevents healthcare workers from recognizing trauma's role.

Why it matters

Mistaking PTSD for PAWS can have devastating consequences, leading to inadequate treatment, relapse, and even overdose. Addiction is highly stigmatized, causing healthcare providers to overlook trauma and attribute all symptoms to the substance use disorder. Recognizing and treating PTSD alongside addiction is crucial for helping patients achieve lasting recovery.

The details

PAWS describes the collection of symptoms that occur after quitting drug use, such as anxiety, depression, sleep problems, cravings, and cognitive issues. While PAWS is not an official medical diagnosis, it is a well-documented phenomenon. However, many PAWS symptoms are actually caused by PTSD, which is common among those with substance use disorders due to high rates of trauma exposure. Differentiating between the two can be challenging, but is essential for proper treatment. Those with PTSD are often told to 'hang in there' until PAWS symptoms subside, rather than receiving trauma-focused care.

• Trauma is a potent risk factor for developing substance use disorders.
• People actively struggling with addiction are far more likely to experience major traumas than those without addiction.
• PTSD symptoms can persist for years after initial recovery from addiction.

What’s next

Healthcare providers should receive training on assessing for and treating PTSD alongside addiction, in order to provide more comprehensive and effective care for patients.