Trauma-Informed Practice & the Opioid Crisis: A Discussion Guide for Health Care and Social Service Providers

Research has shown that the vast majority of individuals who experience problems with opioid misuse and addiction have current or past experiences of trauma and violence.7-13 Those experiences of trauma and violence are often gendered, in that women, men, trans and gender diverse people have different kinds of experiences. Trauma-informed practice is an approach to care that integrates an understanding of trauma into all levels of care, system engagement, workforce development, organizational policy and cross-sectoral collaborations. This resource builds upon the Trauma-Informed Practice Guide 14 developed by BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services in 2013,which have been adopted and implemented in many health authorities and other jurisdictions across the province.