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There is growing interest in the relationship between addiction, trauma and dissociation.Reviewing the most recent literature on this subject, we offer a synthesis of the most relevant theoretical models and data that explore substance use disorder as an adaptation with dissociative feature to adverse childhood experience and/or disordered attachment.We argue furthermore that the Structural Dissociation Theory allows us to place substance use and addiction in the context of complex post traumatic disorder(s).Since it appears of great relevance an accurate differentiation of primary dissociative phenomena from both secondary ones and acute intoxication, we lastly outline a research project aimed at furthering and refining the diagnosis of dissociation in patients with substance use disorder using the Trauma And Dissociation Symptoms Interview.