Hoffmann John P, Hoffmann Curtis S
Department of Sociology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA.
Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
Future Sci OA. 2025 Dec;11(1):2557763. doi: 10.1080/20565623.2025.2557763. Epub 2025 Sep 11.
This article addresses the complex relationship between childhood trauma and adolescent substance use. Drawing on evidence from neurodevelopmental, psychological/emotional, behavioral, and social research, we determined that childhood trauma, which includes early life stress, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and toxic stress, can upset brain development, emotion regulation, and stress-response systems, thereby creating lasting vulnerabilities. These neurological changes both generate and interact with behavioral traits such as impulsivity, poor coping, and emotional dysregulation, thus increasing the risk of substance use as a dysfunctional coping strategy. Social and environmental factors, such as caregiver substance use, peer influences, and community-level disadvantage, further compound these effects. However, individual traits, including effortful control and supportive relationships can attenuate these risks. Moreover, evidence-based interventions that address integrated, trauma-informed, and developmentally appropriate approaches have demonstrated promise in reducing the risks of adolescent substance use among trauma-exposed youth. The article concludes by calling for more conceptual integration across disciplines, longitudinal studies, and culturally responsive prevention, intervention, and treatment approaches.
本文探讨了童年创伤与青少年物质使用之间的复杂关系。借鉴神经发育、心理/情感、行为和社会研究的证据，我们确定童年创伤，包括早期生活压力、童年不良经历（ACEs）和毒性应激，会扰乱大脑发育、情绪调节和应激反应系统，从而造成持久的脆弱性。这些神经学变化既产生行为特征，如冲动、应对能力差和情绪失调，又与这些特征相互作用，从而增加将物质使用作为一种功能失调的应对策略的风险。社会和环境因素，如照顾者的物质使用、同伴影响和社区层面的不利条件，会进一步加剧这些影响。然而，个体特征，包括努力控制和支持性的关系，可以减轻这些风险。此外，基于证据的干预措施，即采用综合、创伤知情和适合发展阶段的方法，已显示出在降低受创伤青少年物质使用风险方面的前景。文章最后呼吁跨学科进行更多的概念整合、开展纵向研究，并采用具有文化适应性的预防、干预和治疗方法。
