Victimization Experiences and Adolescent Substance Use

Abstract

Evidence indicates an association between victimization and adolescent substance use, but the exact nature of this relationship remains unclear. Some research focuses solely on the consequences of experiencing indirect victimization (e.g., witnessing violence), others examine direct victimization (e.g., being personally victimized), and still others combine both forms of victimization without assessing the relative impact of each on substance use. Furthermore, many of these studies only assess these relationships in the short-term using cross-sectional data. This study uses data from the Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods (PHDCN) to explore the impact of experiencing only indirect victimization, only direct victimization, both forms of victimization, and no victimization on substance use at two time points during adolescence. We find that of those adolescents who are victimized, the majority experience indirect victimization only, followed by experiencing both forms of victimization, and experiencing direct victimization only. Each of the victimization experiences were associated with increased contemporaneous substance use, with the strongest effects for those experiencing multiple forms of violence. For all victims, however, the impact on substance use declined over time.

Psychological symptoms related with violence and its relationship with internalizing and externalizing problems among 10th grade students in Istanbul

“…In addition, Oswald et al (80) suggested that early trauma may lead to enhanced sensitivity to substances and that this mechanism may underlie increased vulnerability for drug abuse. In a recent study conducted among adolescents, victimization experiences were associated with increased contemporaneous substance use, while the impact on substance use declined over time (34). Lifetime tobacco and drug use predicted the GPS in the present study, and their effects also interacted, whereas alcohol use did not predict the GPS, although the rate was higher in the GPS.…”

“…According to a previous study, internalizing symptoms and anger may be psychological mediators of the relationship between childhood maltreatment and adolescent violent behavior (74). Alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use may be related with witnessing, perpetrating, and being a victim of violence (2,(30)(31)(32)(33)(34). One frequently cited explanation is that substance use places individuals at increased risk for violence exposure (76), perhaps through lifestyle factors such as association with violent peers and engagement in illegal activities.…”

“…Exposure to multiple forms of violence, across multiple domains of life, negatively impacts adolescent outcomes, including substance use (30). Evidence indicates an association between victimization, both direct (primary) and indirect (secondary), and adolescent substance use (2,(30)(31)(32)(33)(34). A study conducted in 5 countries suggested that traditional risk-taking behaviors such as smoking and drinking were highly associated with the expression of violence-related behavior (35).…”

“…For example, in this study the Eastern Mediterranean, where Turkey is located, had a significantly higher prevalence of frequent fighting than Asia. Some crosssectional research focuses solely on the consequences of experiencing indirect victimization (e.g., witnessing violence), others examine direct victimization (e.g., being personally victimized), and still others combine both forms of victimization without assessing the relative impact of each on substance use (34). Furthermore, many of these studies only evaluated the relationship between the presence of experiencing or witnessing any violence and internalizing problems or externalizing behaviors; there are no studies to evaluate these problems or behaviors among adolescents still reporting psychological symptoms after experiencing or witnessing any violence.…”

The association of prenatal cocaine exposure, externalizing behavior and adolescent substance use

“…A potent negative environmental influence, violence exposure, has been associated with early initiation of alcohol use (Taylor and Kliewer, 2006; Bossarte and Swahn, 2008), marijuana use (Mason, 2010; Richardson et al, 2013), cocaine use (Delaney-Black et al, 2011), and general substance use (Pinchevsky et al, 2014) for adolescents. Repeated exposure to violence is reported to set the stage for greater rates of substance abuse and other mental and physical health problems later in development (Moffitt, 2013).…”