Why Might Adverse Childhood Experiences Lead to Underage Drinking Among US Youth? Findings From an Emergency Department-Based Qualitative Pilot Study

Abstract

Research suggests that adverse childhood experiences (e.g., child abuse, interparental violence) predispose youth to early drinking initiation, but specifics about how and why adolescents progress from these exposures to alcohol use are not well understood. This National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism supported study presents data from semistructured interviews with 22 adolescents who reported both initiating drinking ≤18 years old and ≥2 adverse childhood experiences. Data were collected in 2007 as part of a formative research effort for an emergency department-based intervention to reduce adolescent drinking. Findings suggest that prevention initiatives for youth from challenging environments may need to do more than address conformity and social motivations for underage alcohol initiation. Study limitations are noted and future research is suggested.

Keywords :

• underage alcohol use
• child abuse
• adverse childhood experiences
• drinking onset
• drinking initiation

THE AUTHORS

Emily F. Rothman, ScD., is an Associate Professor of Community Health Sciences at the Boston University School of Public Health. Her primary area of research is adolescent alcohol use and dating violence. She is a former batterer intervention program counselor, and former domestic violence selter advocate.

Judith Bernstein, PhD., is a Professor of Community Health Sciences (SPH) and Emergency Medicine (MED) at the Boston University Schools of Public Health and Medicine, respectively. She has been a nurse and public health professional for the past 25 years. She has worked with both inner-city and rural communities to develop comprehensive integrated approaches to women's health. Dr. Bernstein's current research activities focus on prevention strategies for adolescents, HIV/STD research, and ‘in-reachs’–peer model interventions to bridge the cultural, language and knowledge gaps between patients and providers

Lee Strunin, PhD., is a medical anthropologist and Professor in the Department of Community Health Sciences. Her work concerns the social and cultural aspects of health, illness and disease. Her primary research focus is the cross-cultural study of alcohol-related protective and risk factors among adolescents and young adults.