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Why does trauma turn some to opioids and some to art?
Trauma leaves deep marks not only on the mind but also on the body, often driving people toward opioid use to numb physical and emotional pain. As the opioid crisis persists and resulting deaths in Alameda County increase, the need for a holistic solution grows stronger.
Psychologists, therapists, and experts highlight how movement-based therapies like dance can help survivors reconnect with their bodies, offering a vital path to healing beyond traditional treatment.
In fact, according to a study published by the National Library of Medicine, over 90% of participants in trauma-focused dance / movement therapy reported increased body awareness and emotional regulation — two key components in addiction recovery.
The part of the brain that is hijacked by opioids when they are consumed are the dopamine pathways. The same ones that awaken when we dance, laugh, or create.
Trauma and stress remain as a common cause for opioid misuse, and the National Library of Medicine explains that trauma commonly triggers hyperarousal, characterized by sleep disruptions, muscle tension, exaggerated startle responses, and anxiety — even years later.
These conditions often make daily life more difficult for trauma survivors and they often seek relief – and opioids provide that. They remove the discomfort and make the pain go away – even if it’s for a second. It gives people such a sense of pleasure and relief they feel the drugs are necessary – even crucial – for survival.
Dance reactivates those same pleasure and regulation systems — but organically – and that makes a world of a difference. People can channel their energy into expressing themselves in the visual arts, moving their body to the rhythm of a song, and healing themselves.
A study done by Columbia College Chicago on the effects of dance therapy even states that “by increasing body awareness and focused attention to self, participants demonstrated a greater ability to describe their present moment experience on a body-based level and a sense of relief.”
Healing doesn’t always come in silence or stillness. Sometimes, it begins with a step, a sway, a rhythm — a body relearning how to feel again.
This article was written as part of a program to educate youth and others about Alameda County’s opioid crisis, prevention and treatment options. The program is funded by the Alameda County Behavioral Health Department and the grant is administered by Three Valleys Community Foundation.
