Multiple substance use among adolescent physical and sexual abuse victims

doi:10.1016/S0145-2134(97)00013-6

Child Abuse & Neglect

Volume 21, Issue 6, June 1997, Pages 529-539

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0145-2134(97)00013-6 Get rights and content

Abstract

Objective: This study was conducted to examine the relationship between substance use patterns among adolescents and their histories of physical and/or sexual abuse.

Method: The Minnesota Student Survey was administered in 1995 to 122,824 public school students in Grades 6, 9, and 12. Substance user groups were created based on frequency of use and the number of substances used. Use of individual substances, use of multiple substances, age of first use, and reasons for use were examined with respect to histories of physical and/or sexual abuse.

Results: Physical and sexual abuse were associated with an increased likelihood of the use of alcohol, marijuana, and almost all other drugs for both males and females in the three grades surveyed. Use of multiple substances was highly elevated among victims of abuse, with the highest rates seen among students who reported both physical and sexual abuse. Abuse victims also reported initiating substance use earlier than their nonabused peers and gave more reasons for using, including use to cope with painful emotions and to escape from problems.

Conclusion: Because of their increased vulnerability, young victims of physical and sexual abuse need improved prevention, early intervention, and treatment services related to substance use.

Résumé

Objectif: Cette étude a été menée pour examiner la relation entre les modes d'utilisation des drogues chez les adolescents et leurs histoire d'abus physique et ou sexuel.

Méthode: L'étude des étudiants du Minnesota a été effectuée en 1995 sur 122.824 étudiants des écoles publiques des classes 6, 9 et 12. Des groupes d'utilisateurs de drogues ont été constitués à partir de la fréquence et du nombre de substances utilisées. Utilisation d'une drogue, utilisation de multile drogues, âge de la première consommation, motivation à la consommation ont étéétudiées en relation avec l'histoire d'abus physique et/ou sexuel.

Résultats: L'abus physique et sexuel était associéà une probabilité augmentée d'utilisation d'alcool, de marihuana et d'à peu près toutes les autres drogues tant chez les garçons que chez les filles dans les 3 classes étudiées. La consommation de multiples drogues était très fréquente parmi les victimes d'abus, et le taux le plus élevé a été observé chez les étudiants dérivant des abus physiques et sexuels. Les victimes d'abus ont aussi décrit une première utilisation à un âge plus précoce que leurs camarade non abusés et ont donné un plus grant nombre de motivation y compris celles des gérer des émotions douloureuses et d'échapper à leurs problèmes.

Conclusions: Les jeunes victimes d'abus physiques et sexuels, de part leur plus grande vulnérabilité, nécessitent une prévention améliorée, une intervention précoce et des services de prise en charge liés à l'utilisation des drogues.

Resumen

Objetivo: Este estudio se realizó para examinar la relación entre los patrones en el uso de sustancias en los adolescentes y sus historias de abuso físico y/o sexual.

Método: Se administró el “Minnesota Student Survey” en 1995 a 122,824 estudiantes de excuelas públicas de 6to., 9no. y 12avo. grados. Se crearon grupos de usuarios de sustancias basados en la frecuencia en el uso y el número de sustancias utilizadas. El uso de sustancias individuales, uso de múltiples sustancias, edad de la primera vez en el uso, y las razones de su uso; se examinaron en relación con las historias de abuso f́isico y/o sexual.

Resultados: El abuso físico y sexual se asociaron con un aumento en la posibilidad en el uso de alcohol, marijuana, y casi todas las otras drogas, tanto para hembras como para varones, en los tres grados estudiados. El uso de múltiples sustancias fue muy elevado en las víctimas de abuso, con los promedios más altos presentados en estudiantes que reportaron el abuso físico y el sexual. Las víctimas de abuso también reportaron iniciarse en el uso de sustancias más temprano que sus compañeros que no-abusan y presentaban más razones para su uso, incluyendo el uso como una forma de soportar (cope) las emociones dolorosas y escapar a sus problemas.

Conclusión: Por el aumento en su vulnerabilidad, las víctimas del abuso físico y sexual necesitan mejor prevención, intervención temprana y servicios de tratamiento relacionados con el abuso de sustancias.

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^☆: Funding for this report was provided by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment block grant and Center for Substance Abuse Treatment Contract No. 270-94-0029.

^☆☆: The Minnesota Student Survey was conducted by the Minnesota Department of Children, Families, and Learning Prevention and Risk Reduction Unit.

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Multiple substance use among adolescent physical and sexual abuse victims☆,☆☆

Abstract

Résumé

Resumen

Child Abuse & Neglect

Journal of the American Academy of Child Psychiatry

Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine

Journal of the Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Child Abuse & Neglect

Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment

Guidelines for adolescent preventive services

Adolescents' multisubstance use patterns: The role of heavy alcohol and cigarette use

American Journal of Public Health

Impact of child sexual abuse: A review of the research

Psychological Bulletin

Childhood sexual and physical abuse as factors in adult psychiatric illness

American Journal of Psychiatry

Victims of violence and psychiatric illness

American Journal of Psychiatry

Adolescent alcohol and drug abuse and its consequences—An overview

American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse

Drug use rises again in 1995 among American teens

Current information on the scope and nature of child sexual abuse

Future of Children

The traumatic impact of child sexual abuse: A conceptualization

American Journal of Orthopsychiatry

The persisting negative effects of incest

Psychiatry

Adolescent alcohol and drug problems: Who is at risk?

Doctoral dissertation, Union Institute, 1990

University Microfilms No. 9117615