"Several hundred Pennsylvania state prison inmates recently participated in a voluntary study by Rutgers University to determine the connection between post-traumatic stress and substance abuse disorders.
“The number of offenders with unresolved trauma experienced early in their lives is really shocking to me,” Department of Corrections Secretary John Wetzel said. “This is yet another area we must continue to study. This type of groundbreaking work will ultimately lead to better treatment and fewer victims. There’s no doubt that unresolved trauma leads to crime. Resolving early trauma leads to rehabilitation....
"At the end of the study, the men who participated in the groups had improved mental health, self-esteem, resiliency and coping skills. The men reported feeling better able to manage their anger and frustration because they understood their triggers and had skills to calm their reactions to life’s challenges and respond in a more measured and socially appropriate fashion."
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