Customize Consent Preferences

We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.

The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ... 

Always Active

Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.

No cookies to display.

Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.

No cookies to display.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

No cookies to display.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

No cookies to display.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.

No cookies to display.

Health

Childhood Maltreatment Linked to Adult Substance Abuse

University of Queensland researchers have uncovered a significant link between childhood maltreatment and adult substance abuse, shedding light on the importance of addressing early trauma to prevent alcohol and substance use disorders later in life.

The study, led by Dr. Claudia Bull from UQ’s Faculty of Medicine, examined data from over 6,000 individuals born at Brisbane’s Mater Mother’s Hospital between 1981 and 1983. By tracking this cohort from infancy to 40 years of age and cross-referencing it with information from the Queensland Department of Families, Youth and Community Care, the researchers identified around 600 individuals who had experienced childhood maltreatment.

The findings revealed that individuals who had been maltreated as children were significantly more likely to be hospitalized for alcohol use disorder as adults, with a 2.86 times higher risk compared to those who did not experience maltreatment. Moreover, the same group was 3.34 times more likely to be admitted for a substance use disorder.

While previous research primarily focused on physical and sexual abuse, this study delved into the impact of emotional abuse and neglect on the development of alcohol and substance use disorders. The results indicated that all forms of childhood abuse and neglect, whether physical, sexual, or emotional, were associated with a threefold increase in the likelihood of later alcohol and substance use disorders.

Co-author Professor Steve Kisely emphasized that addressing the root causes of child maltreatment could potentially prevent numerous cases of alcohol and substance use disorders in adulthood. By understanding and intervening in childhood trauma, there is a significant opportunity to mitigate the risk of these disorders later in life.

The research, funded by the Metro South Research Support Scheme and supported by the ALIVE National Centre for Mental Health Research Translation, was published in the journal Addiction.

LEAVE A RESPONSE

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *