Child Abuse and Addiction

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BY: T. Franklin Murphy | December 2018

Childhood neglect and abuse make us more susceptible to dangerous coping mechanisms such as addiction.

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A notable correlation exists between childhood abuse and susceptibility to alcohol and drug addiction.

Addiction can strike any family, person or circumstance. The complexity of influences astounds even the most seasoned social scientist. An otherwise strong, resilient person can drift into dangerous behaviors when the stars of influence align and strike with power and deception. However, we are fooling ourselves if we equate wide spread vulnerability with equal susceptibility. Some influences damage the soul much more than others. Childhood neglect and abuse weakens internal protections from outside dangers, leaving the adolescent and young adult much more vulnerable to menacing coping strategies that further erode their well-being and chances of recovery.

The idea that capitalism offers equal opportunity for all is a farce. Capitalism offers opportunity based on merit. We are not blank slates with unmanipulated freedom to choose good or evil. Those born into luxury and opportunity prefer to believe they are self-made successes. The Donald Trumps (and George W. Bushes) of the world are not self-made success stories. Their fortunes grew from the fortunes they were given. This is a different game than those that struggle to acquire a roof, car and food from humble beginnings that limits opportunity. Add to humble beginnings a destructive, abusive or chaotic childhood lacking in substantive examples of middle-class survival and any theory of equality is blown to pieces. We compete in a harsh economy where many are weighted with childhood deprivation and our expected to succeed against those given rich and plentiful beginnings.

"However, we are fooling ourselves if we equate wide spread vulnerability with equal susceptibility. Some influences damage the soul much more than others."

In their stimulating book, Ghosts from the Nursery, Robin Karr-Morse and Meredith Wiley write, “Absent adequate nurturing by an emotionally competent caregiver, the baby faces an unpredictable tide of unregulated emotions.” (2014, location 123). These findings are not unsupported. A wide range of studies support the hazardous impact of instability and violence in the childhood home. Healthy development does not demand perfection, but the home must provide an adequate safety zone where the mind can grow, preparing for the demands of adulthood.

Childhood abuse and neglect is linked to a variety of negative impacts on the child’s life. These victims are more prone to depression (Gibb, Butler, & Beck, 2003; Kaplow & Widom, 2007), criminal behavior (Dutton & Hart, 1992; Haapasalo & Moilanen, 2004; Lisak & Beszterczey, 2007), and addiction (Mullings, Hartley, & Marquart, 2004). These delicate children have no say in their developmental environments. An evolved society understands this and seeks to resolve the injustices, providing avenues of escape from this perpetuating inequality. We see the perpetrators (the homeless and addicted) and we accuse, implying personal choice; but see the child with compassion and understanding. The adult was once the child. The child will be the adult.

Children adapt to harsh environments, typically relying on coping strategies to lessen the impact. These coping strategies, while partially effective for their young minds, intrude on adult success.

“A frequent explanation of how childhood abuse affects development is associated with coping strategies. As a way to deal with painful memories and block out negative thoughts and feelings, coping strategies such as substance use and/or abuse, risky sexual behavior, and overeating may occur” (Sikes & Hays, 2010).

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We need to quit micro-examinations of those suffering from addictions and seek to provide effective and available pathways to healing. We aren’t going to eliminate every social ill; but we can address many, tackling addiction with helpful programs for the drug and alcohol dependent adult and programs to educate young parents, giving youngsters a better chance for normalcy in their developmental years. When we write off large segments of society because we hold to some magical beliefs of equality, we create a larger divide, mocking the very principles of fairness we espouse to believe in.

In our self-righteousness, we overly concern ourselves with those that will misuse medically proven remedies to assist addiction that we willingly adopt such strong structures of regulation to effectively prevent access to helpful medications to those that most need it. Methadone clinics require a difficult coordinated jumping through hoops far beyond the organizational skills of the suffering addict. We chide with our ignorant righteousness, “if they really wanted to quit, they would be committed to the lengthy and complicated demands.” Yet we furiously attack any regulatory obstacles to medical treatment for other diseases. This is because we still excuse the social factors contributing to addiction and over simplify the cause as self-administered.

Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous, while not completely scientifically based, have a structure that is an example to all the other programs—it’s accessible. The struggling soul can easily slip into a meeting out of curiosity, waning desire for change, or as part of a structured plan for change.

Instead of the blustering noise from the White House, suggesting that the negotiations with China to make fentanyl illegal will be a game changer, we need to refocus our attention at home. Illegality of drugs has a proven history of not solving the deeper psychological issues of addiction. Locking people up or providing abbreviated classes on addiction also fail. A five-billion-dollar wall will not dry the flow of illicit drugs into a hungry market. The principles of capitalism remind that as long as there is a demand, supply will oblige. Our evolving society can do better. We can provide easier access to better programs. We can provide training and assistance to young at-risk parents and children.

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