Exploratory study on the association between interpersonal violence experiences and alcohol use among adolescents

Although a high prevalence of interpersonal violence among adolescents has been documented, we know very little about the association between interpersonal violence and alcohol use among adolescents. This study examines the relation between interpersonal violence experiences and alcohol use among a general random sample of 4,564 adolescents recruited through a randomized school-based survey of high school students in Florida. Overall, 30% of high school students reported lifetime interpersonal violence through physical fights, and 8% reported being physically forced to have sexual intercourse. In multivariable multinomial weighted logistic models adjusting for gender, ethnicity, and grade, high school students who were involved in physical fights or physically forced to have sexual intercourse had greater odds of alcohol use or binge drinking in the past 30 days than students who were not exposed to these experiences. In conclusion, adolescents who have faced interpersonal violence experiences may be at a high risk for alcohol use. Findings suggest that early evaluation of interpersonal violence experiences may be important as part of alcohol use prevention programs among adolescents. The article discusses implications for social work prevention programs and recommendations for future research.