Multiple Forms of Child Abuse May Lead to Greater Adolescent Binge Drinking

Child maltreatment has long been linked to substance abuse issues later in life.  A new study from Boston University has found that children who experience multiple types of abuse are at a particularly high risk for underage binge drinking. Adolescents aged 12-21 with a history of sexual abuse had twice as greater odds of binge drinking than those with no maltreatment; teens who experienced both neglect and physical abuse had 1.3 times higher odds, and those who experienced all three types of maltreatment were 1.8 times more likely to report binge drinking. The authors conclude, “Researchers examining the relationship between childhood maltreatments and risky alcohol use in adolescence should simultaneously consider all types of childhood maltreatment to address the totality of the child’s experience.”

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