Growing into addiction: Examining the relationship between childhood attachment and substance use disorder

This article reviews the literature on attachment theory and substance use disorder (SUD), risk factors, and treatment for SUDs. The purpose of this article is to help foster a deeper understanding of what attachment theory is and what it could offer treatments involving people suffering from SUD. When looking at attachment-based therapies for SUD, little research has been done in a clinical or longitudinal study to confirm short-term attachment-based therapies’ success when treating people suffering from SUD. It is crucial to discover a more comprehensive treatment for SUD to help those in recovery abstain from substances over the long term, avoid relapse, and establish healthier relationships. Exploring this could fuel further longitudinal research and give more populations access to comprehensible care that addresses the underlying factors of addiction instead of merely addictive behaviors.