“One can’t Occur without the Other”: How Men Describe the Connection Between Healing from Childhood Sexual Abuse and Addiction Recovery

The role that healing from childhood sexual abuse (CSA) plays in the context of substance use disorder (SUD) recovery is not well understood, particularly in male survivors. Building on interviews with 25 men and using grounded theory, this qualitative study explored the connection between healing from CSA and SUD recovery among male survivors. The findings reveal a cyclical nature in the connection between healing from CSA and addiction recovery, where sobriety enables healing and healing from CSA enables long-term recovery. This study highlights the importance of acknowledging and addressing sexual trauma in the treatment of SUD, particularly in male survivors.