During this National Recovery Month, we are reminded about how critical it is to focus on substance use prevention and recovery efforts for young people. The most recent data released from the National Institute on Drug Abuse shows that the used of illicit drugs among young people remains steady, but is becoming increasingly dangerous.
According to the latest results from the Monitoring the Future survey, in 2023, 10.9% of eighth graders, 19.8% of 10th graders, and 31.2% of 12th graders reporting any illicit drug use in the past year. While these numbers are lower than pre-pandemic levels, other research is reporting a dramatic rise in overdose deaths among teens, largely attributed to fentanyl. “Taken together, these data suggest that while drug use is not becoming more common among young people, it is becoming more dangerous,” NIDA reports.
In light of these alarming numbers, mental health professionals treating young people with compromised attachment as well as their parents and caregivers, should to be aware of the link between attachment disorders and substance use disorders.
Attachment theory and addiction intersect in a number of ways. Secure attachment is critical to the development of a person’s resilience, self-esteem, empathy, and flexibility, stress management, and communication, among other things. When attachment is compromised, these qualities and skills cannot develop as they should, leading to numerous long term effects. In addition to substance use disorder, children and adults with attachment disorders often struggle with anger management issues, risky behaviors, relationship problems, and more – all of which are known factors in addiction. Furthermore, when someone has developed an avoidant, anxious, or disorganized attachment style, they do not have the coping mechanisms to deal with life’s challenges and stresses or control their emotions and behaviors, further accecerbating the likelihood that they may turn to drug or alcohol as a way to deal with their pain.
“[Attachment] is seen as an important risk factor not only for SUD, but also for mental disorders in general. With increasing insecurity, individuals will face more difficulties in regulating emotions and stress….Psychotropic substances then might become attractive as one way to ‘self-medicate’ attachment needs, to regulate emotions, to cope with stress, and to replace relationships.” According to an article on Frontiers in Psychiatry
At the same time, long-term substance abuse is likely to further exacerbate attachment problems because it impairs the ability to form and maintain relationships.
The Rat Park Experiment
One flawed but significant study from the the 1970s, when researchers began to focus on addiction as a coping mechanism for deaper wounds rather than a purely biological process or a moral failing, illustrates the impact of connection or a lack of connection on addictive behaviors in rats. Bruce Alexander and colleagues studied how rats would behave in an environment with the choice of having water mixed in with a drug or not. They found that almost all of the rats chose the bottle of water mixed with an addictive substance over the one without. When the researchers ran this experiment again, they decided to change up the environment. This time, they created what they called “Rat Park.” Rat Park consisted of the same two water bottles (one with an addictive substance and one without). This time, however, there were toys and other rats that the studied rats could choose to interact with. In the Rat Park version, a very small percentage of rats chose to opt for the drug-infused water. The experiment showed that addiction is not only a physcial or biological process and suggests that feeling engaged and connected to our environment – and the people within it – are crucial factors to understanding how addiction develops and perpetuates.
More recent research on attachment theory and addiction argues that addressing attachment issues can “contribute to the understanding and treatment of SUDs in a significant way.” This confirms what we already know: Treating and healing attachment issues early in life, can prevent more severe issues in adulthood – including the need to turn to alcohol and other substances to cope.
If you know of anyone struggling with alcohol, SAMHSA’s National Helpline, 1-800-662-HELP (4357), (also known as the Treatment Referral Routing Service) or TTY: 1-800-487-4889 is a confidential, free, 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year, information service, in English and Spanish, for individuals and family members facing mental and/or substance use disorders. This service provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations.
