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Who is this booklet for and what does it do?
• This booklet has been written for people who use alcohol, tobacco or other drugs
who have gone through a traumatic experience.
• It aims to:
—Help explain why people feel the way they do after having gone through a trauma.
—Give suggestions about things people can do to help recover from the trauma.
What is a traumatic event?
• A traumatic event is any event where someone’s life or safety is at serious risk.
• People can experience them themselves or they might witness them happening
to someone else.
• They can be one-off events, like car accidents, armed robberies, or natural disasters
(e.g., bushfires, floods, earthquakes).
• Or they may be drawn out, like being exposed to war, domestic violence, or physical
or sexual abuse.
How common are traumatic experiences?
• Traumatic experiences are very common — three out of every four people in Australia
have experienced at least one traumatic event in their lifetime.
• Traumatic experiences are even more common among people who have alcohol, tobacco
or other drug problems. Almost everyone who has an alcohol, tobacco or other drug
problem has experienced a traumatic event.
• If you have experienced trauma, you are not alone.
What are some of the traumatic events you have experienced?
You may wish to write them down here.