The U.S. is experiencing a growing crisis of substance dependence and overdose. We are actively bringing our trauma-informed approach to addressing the epidemic of substance use and studying its impact on recovery and healing. We believe most addiction is rooted in trauma and self-medication, and that effective solutions to addiction need to destigmatize substance misuse, create safe and trustworthy relationships where patients can feel comfortable revealing themselves, and partner with them to feel better and reach their own goals.
Our current work focuses in three areas:
- Developing an outpatient model of trauma-informed substance use treatment;
- Innovating a trauma-informed response to stimulant use addiction in the black community;
- Advocating for a trauma-informed approach to the California’s opiate overdose epidemic.
HERS — developing a new outpatient model of substance use treatment
In September 2022, CTHC received a second five-year grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to develop an outpatient model of trauma-informed substance use treatment. We are refining this new outpatient model through the Health, Empowerment, and Recovery Services (HERS) program, a clinical and research program nested in our Women’s HIV Clinic.
HERS+ — innovating care for black women with stimulant use addiction
HERS+ is a Special Project of National Significance (SPNS) grant to develop trauma-informed stimulant use treatment for black women living with HIV. The overarching goal of this project is to improve health outcomes throughout the HIV care continuum, reduce preventable illness and death, and improve quality of life for black women living with HIV.
Ti-MOUD — helping California reduce opiate overdoses
CTHC teamed up with leaders across California to reduce opiate overdoses. We are members of the Treatment Starts Here working group, where our focus is to bring a trauma-informed approach to the statewide response so patients can be healed through a trusting and safe relationship with their provider along with powerful biomedical tools. We are focusing specifically on the evolving field of Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD), where we have developed a new trauma-informed framework for the affectual and behavioral aspects of opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment. This framework is called trauma-informed medications for opiate use disorder (Ti-MOUD).