Abusing a child changes the victim’s brain, making the victim susceptible to drug addiction as she matures, according to drug addiction specialist, Dr. Gabor Mate, the author of In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts.

During an interview on Democracy Now! on February 3, 2010, Dr. Mate detailed the biophysical changes to the brain of an abused child and how that makes the child vulnerable to drug addiction.  His experience treating addicts is consistent with the results of the national studies he cites: 90% of hardcore addicts suffered child abuse that changed their brain circuitry.

I embedded Dr. Mate’s interview so you may watch it now.  Just click this video:

Some of the children I represent survive their trauma and abuse better than others.  A researcher at the University of Kansas received a $1.7 million grant to study why some children show exceptional resiliency.

Yo Jackson, associate professor of applied behavioral science and clinical child psychology, will share the five year grant with, among others, Jackson County Children’s Division of the Missouri Department of Social Services, the Midwest Foster Care and Adoption Association in Jackson County, and faculty at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.