NCJ Number
236988
Journal
Journal of Addictive Diseases Volume: 30 Issue: 3 Dated: July-September 2011 Pages: 216-228
Date Published
July 2011
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This article addresses the relationship between child sexual abuse and substance problems.
Abstract
To elucidate the role of child sexual abuse in the etiology of substance-related disorders, a systematic review of the several articles on the childhood sexual abuse-related risk for developing substance problems in adolescence or adulthood is provided. Seven databases were searched, supplemented with hand-search of reference lists. Six reviews, including 200 studies, were included. Results indicate that child sexual abuse is a statistically significant, although general and nonspecific, risk factor for substance problems. Other biological and psychosocial variables contribute to substance-related disorders, with sexual abuse conferring additional risk, either as a distal, indirect cause or as a proximal, direct cause. Recommendations for future research are provided. (Published Abstract)