Research & Resources

Researchers examined the effects of assaultive trauma experiences (e.g., physical assault and sexual assault) on alcohol use and alcohol-related consequences in American Indian (AI) adolescents. They analyzed self-reported data on trauma exposure, alcohol consumption, and lifetime alcohol-related consequences provided by 3,498 AI adolescents (7th–12th grade) residing on or near a reservation. Nearly half (49.3%) of respondents reported having experienced at least one assaultive trauma in their lifetime. Those who reported having experienced assaultive trauma were more likely to report lifetime alcohol use and a greater number of alcohol-related consequences than those not reporting assaultive trauma exposure. A greater number of assaultive traumatic events was significantly associated with greater odds of lifetime alcohol use and a greater number of alcohol-related consequences. Researchers emphasized the need to support trauma-informed interventions in addressing alcohol use among AI adolescents.

This paper, “Assaultive trauma, alcohol use, and alcohol-related consequences among American Indian adolescents,” was funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), and the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) and published in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical and experimental research.