Abstract Every year several unaccompanied children come to Sweden. These children have experienced atrocities both as fugitives during the trip to Sweden and in their home countries, which has usually resulted in trauma. Our study investigates whether social workers experiences that trauma has an impact on a substance abuse problem among unaccompanied children and how HVB staff work with issues related to trauma and substance abuse issues. In the study, we started from a qualitative method in the form of semi-structured interviews with HVB staff and social workers. Furthermore, the study contains previous research on trauma, drug abuse and HVB. The study is also based on three theories that are KASAM, Coping and the tool Risk and protection factors. The theories, the previous research and the information from the interviews have been used to analyze the study's questions. Based on the previous research that is presented in the study and through the informants, it has been found that several factors have an influence on why a drug abuse occurs but also that traumatized children have easier to start an addiction problem.