The Impact of Long-Term Substance Abuse on Mental Health Disorders in Adults: A Comprehensive Study

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of long-term opioid use combined with trauma on mental health disorders, specifically depression, and anxiety, in adults enrolled in a clinical opioid treatment program. 25 participants (ages 21–75) from an opioid treatment completed the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) scale, and the Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale (COWS) to assess depression, anxiety, and withdrawal severity, an interview to assess past trauma Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, and independent t-tests were used to analyze the data. Results demonstrated a relationship between depression and opioid withdrawal severity and anxiety and withdrawal severity. Participants with a history of trauma exhibited significantly higher levels of depression and anxiety, suggesting a need for integrated treatment approaches that address both substance use and mental health disorders, particularly through trauma-informed care.