Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za

2-minute read
05 July 2024 | 15:33 CAT

The intersection of childhood trauma and addiction. Photo/American Counseling Association

The Psychology Department at the University of Cape Town has recently unearthed a significant correlation. Their study reveals that adolescents who experienced maltreatment in childhood often resort to alcohol and drugs as a means of coping with their negative emotions.

This significantly raises their chance of developing substance abuse issues. The research, named “The Influence of Coping Reasons on the Connection between Child Abuse and Substance Abuse in South African Teens”, was released in the journal Child Abuse and Neglect. Psychology Masters student Ayesha Assim and Associate Professor Debbie Kaminer, in partnership with researchers from the Universities of Exeter and Stellenbosch, conducted the study in multiple Cape Town schools.

Assim, in an interview with Radio Islam International, detailed the rigorous research methodology. The study was conducted at three public high schools in Cape Town, involving a survey of multiple questionnaires administered to students in grades 8, 9, and 10.

The surveys evaluate their experience of childhood trauma, which includes physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, as well as physical and emotional neglect. Assim states that it also evaluated their frequency of alcohol and marijuana use and issues connected to substance use.

Numerous young children have turned to substance abuse as a way to cope after experiencing maltreatment.

Assim’s research revealed that 20% of students turned to alcohol, while 26% turned to marijuana to deal with negative emotions stemming from abuse at home.

Assim underscores the importance of understanding the underlying reasons for adolescents’ drug use. This understanding is crucial in predicting the likelihood of substance use progressing to more severe stages, such as addiction, and can guide effective intervention strategies.

You can listen to the full interview on The Daily Round Up with Moulana Junaid Kharsany and Psychology Masters student Ayesha Assim here.