Changing the Paradigm of Abuse, Addiction and Trauma

Dr. Mate' keynote address, "Women, Addictions and FASD is about social and cultural norms, our judgements, compassion, and empathy for the peoples suffering from trauma. (ACEs study @ 26:00)  He offers an alternative perspective in describing addiction, relationship, drugs, and alcohol in the context of trauma.  Traditional ceremony utilizing tabacco, medicinal plants, herbs, and spirits in many cultures have been replaced for the need to simply escape from feelings of being uncomfortable, more often than not this is created by stress in the environment.  He argues that genetics do not cause behavior; the social environment and epigenetics is a much greater determinant in relation to illness and disease in society.  Awareness of the real problem will then become an opportunity for recovery and change, beginning in our relations with children and each other.