Alcohol Abuse Among U.S. Navy Recruits Who Were Maltreated in Childhood

Abstract

Aims: To examine relationships between childhood maltreatment and alcohol-related problems among U.S. Navy recruits. Methods: An anonymous sample of 5697 Navy recruits completed a survey regarding their alcohol consumption, alcohol problems (binge drinking, drinking until drunk, alcohol dependence, alcohol-related arrests), and experiences of childhood physical and sexual abuse. Results: Most of the recruits used alcohol, and a substantial proportion reported histories of childhood maltreatment. Recruits who had been victimized as children were more likely to use alcohol. Furthermore, among drinkers, those who had been abused were more likely to exhibit alcohol problems than were non-abused drinkers. Conclusion: Substantial numbers of personnel with alcohol-related problems may be using alcohol to self-medicate due to a history of childhood abuse. Attention to the association between alcohol abuse and childhood maltreatment might help improve the efficacy of military alcohol reduction programs.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 28, 2007
Accession Number
ADA519275

Entities

People

  • C. Thomsen
  • L. Merrill
  • L. Trent
  • V. Stander

Organizations

  • Naval Health Research Center

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Alcohol Consumption
  • Child Abuse
  • Department Of Defense
  • Digestive System Processes
  • Diseases And Disorders
  • Health Services
  • Medical Personnel
  • Military Personnel
  • Psychiatry
  • Sexual Assault
  • Students
  • Substance-Related Disorders
  • Training
  • Traumatic Stress Disorder
  • Victims

Fields of Study

  • Medicine

Readers

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