“We Heal Together”: Characteristics of the Male Healing Journey from Childhood Sexual Abuse Among Men in Recovery from Substance Use Disorder in the United States

Experiencing childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is a risk factor for the development of substance use disorder (SUD). Men in particular tend to use substances in an effort to self-medicate trauma-related distress. Data suggest that up to 20–25% of men in SUD treatment have histories of CSA. Male survivors of sexual violence face unique challenges related to gender norms, masculinity, and homophobia that influence the healing process. Although there is a growing body of research on the process of male healing, no studies up to this point have specifically explored how men in long-term addiction recovery describe what it means to heal from sexual trauma. To fill this gap, this study is built on semi-structured interviews with 25 men in recovery from SUD with histories of CSA. Grounded theory procedures revealed four overall themes of the healing journey from sexual trauma of men in SUD recovery: (1) Working toward Acceptance; (2) Practicing Forgiveness; (3) Reexamining Masculinity; and (4) Building a Community of Healing. Results suggest that healing from CSA for male survivors in recovery from SUD occurs in the context of community when survivors come forward and beat the shame associated with sexual trauma. Findings also underline the need to continue to challenge societal misbeliefs surrounding the rates and effects of sexual violence perpetrated on boys. Future research should explore differences in the male healing journey based on perpetrator characteristics and should also investigate feasible interventions to address healing from CSA in SUD treatment.