We know that individuals with substance dependence are at high risk for experiencing traumatic events, but how this compares with the risk for other people living in their same neighborhoods is not as clear. Most studies compare rates of trauma and PTSD among drug users to the general population, which does not take into account the prevalence of violence in different communities. Several studies have examined communities with high rates of drug use (Bell et al., 1998; Kadushin et al., 1998; Petronis & Anthony, 2000). Residents in these neighborhoods deal with factors of social disorganization, poor economic conditions, chronic disease, and traumatic events (Bell et al., 1998). Considering these findings, it is reasonable to assume that individuals from the same community as drug users may also experience elevated rates of distressing events.
