Childhood abuse and chronic parental domestic violence linked to later addictions

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-06/uot-caa062116.php

Public Release: 22-Jun-2016
Childhood abuse and chronic parental domestic violence linked to later addictions
One in five drug dependent adults had been sexually abused in childhood, more than half had been physically abused and one in seven had witnessed chronic parental domestic violence
University of Toronto

Adults who have drug or alcohol dependency have experienced very high rates of early adversities, according to a new study published by University of Toronto researchers. One in five drug dependent Canadian adults and one in six alcohol dependent adults were survivors of childhood sexual abuse. This compares to one in 19 in the general Canadian population. More than one half of substance abusers had been physically abused in childhood compared to one-quarter of those who were not addicted. After accounting for mental illness, poverty and social support, both sexual and physical abuse were associated with twice the odds of drug dependence.

"We found that both direct (physical and sexual abuse) and indirect (witnessing parental domestic violence) forms of childhood victimization are associated with substance abuse" said lead author, Professor Esme Fuller-Thomson, Sandra Rotman Endowed Chair at the University of Toronto's Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work and Institute for Life Course & Aging

"We were surprised that chronic parental domestic violence exposure remained significantly associated with both drug and alcohol dependence, even when we adjusted for childhood maltreatment, depression and most of the known risk factors for substance dependency" said lead author, Professor Esme Fuller-Thomson, Sandra Rotman Endowed Chair at the University of Toronto's Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work and Institute for Life Course & Aging. "In fact, the odds of alcohol dependency among those who witnessed their parents' chronic domestic violence were about 50% higher than those without that exposure, and these odds were similar in magnitude to that of childhood sexual abuse. One in seven adults with drug dependence or alcohol dependence had been exposed to chronic parental domestic violence. This compares to one in 25 in the general population. Parental domestic violence was considered 'chronic' if it occurred 11 or more times before the respondent was age 16."

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