Study reveals high prevalence of childhood trauma among Taiwan’s female drug users

研究顯示台灣女性吸毒者童年創傷盛行率較高

Researcher urges drug harm prevention policies to account for childhood trauma


TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The prevalence of adverse childhood experiences among women with histories of drug use should be considered when shaping drug harm prevention policies, according to the lead researcher of a study that highlighted the link on Monday (Sept. 30).

The recommendation comes after survey results revealed that over 75% of women with a history of drug use had experienced at least one “highly stressful or potentially traumatic” event before the age of 12, per CNA. The findings were published by the government non-profit National Health Research Institutes (NHRI) and based on responses from 219 women between the ages of 16 and 45 with histories of drug use.

The study defined adverse childhood experiences as events including physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, living with a family member who had substance abuse issues, and having divorced parents, among others.

Chuan-Yu Chen (陳娟瑜), a drug abuse and mental health expert at NHRI who led the study, urged agencies focused on preventing drug harm to consider these findings. She stated that factoring negative childhood experiences into the planning of prevention and rehabilitation services could improve long-term outcomes for women.

Chen noted that past clinical guidelines on drug abuse have largely focused on male users, potentially overlooking the specific social and medical needs of women. Over the past decade, she said, drug-related medical disorders among women have steadily risen, with women facing higher risks of overdose and social harms stemming from drug use.

In addition to the 75% who reported at least one adverse childhood experience, nearly 39% of respondents said they had experienced four or more. More than a third of those surveyed reported using drugs during sex, and over half had a history of domestic violence.

Chen emphasized that incorporating these findings into policy could pave the way for “trauma-informed care” and enhance the understanding of the unique challenges faced by female drug users.