A Disease of Loneliness: Addiction Through an Attachment Theory Lens
A Disease of Loneliness: Addiction Through an Attachment Theory Lens
Information
Date & Time
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Learning Objectives
Participants will be able to:
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Explain how attachment insecurity may interact with biological, psychological, and social factors to increase vulnerability to substance use disorders.
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Describe the psychological and neurobiological mechanisms shared by attachment relationships and addictive processes, including affect regulation, reward, and responses to separation or withdrawal.
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Apply at least three attachment-informed and culturally responsive principles to the assessment, treatment planning, and clinical engagement of individuals with substance use disorders.
Educational Goal
Description
This presentation examines why some individuals who use alcohol or other substances develop severe substance use disorders, emphasizing attachment insecurity as one potential pathway within a broader biopsychosocial framework. It reviews psychological, relational, and neurobiological evidence linking attachment and addiction, then considers implications for culturally responsive assessment, treatment planning, therapeutic engagement, and recovery.
Target Audience
- Addiction Professional
- Counselor
- Marriage & Family Therapist
- Psychologist
- Social Worker
Presenters
Financially Sponsored By
- Newport Healthcare