Abstract
BackgroundDespite the accumulation of studies examining the link between alcohol use and violence, no studies to our knowledge have systematically set out to detect age-related differences in these relationships. This limitation inhibits important insights into the stability of the relationship between alcohol use and violence among youth across varying ages. MethodStudy findings are based on repeated, cross-sectional data collected annually as part of the National Survey on Drug Use and Health between 2002 and 2013. We combined a series of nationally representative cross-sections to provide a multi-year string of data that, in effect, reflects a nationally representative non-traditional cohort. We conducted logistic regression analyses to examine the cross-sectional association between non-binge and binge drinking and violent attacks among youth between ages 12 (2002) and 24/25 (2013). ResultsWith respect to the association between non-binge alcohol use and violence, the only significant relationship identified—while controlling for sociodemographic and drug use factors—was for youth at age 13 (2003; OR=1.97, 95% CI=1.04–3.72). For binge drinking, we identified a distinct pattern of results. Controlling for sociodemographic, drug use factors, and school enrollment, binge drinking was significantly associated with violence between ages 13 (2003) and 20 (2010) with the largest odds ratios observed during the early adolescent period. ConclusionsNon-binge drinking is associated with violent behavior at age 13. Binge drinking was found to be associated with violence among youth through age 20; however, the relationship dissipates when youth arrive at the legal drinking age of 21.
Highlights
A vast body of research has documented the relationship between alcohol consumption and interpersonal violence, including individual and group fighting, handgun use, violent attacks, intimate partner violence, arrest for aggravated assault, forcible rape, and homicide
The present study provides a nuanced portrait of the relationship between alcohol use and violence in the lives of a cohort of American youth across the spectrum of adolescence and young adulthood between 2002 and 2013
Twenty five percent of the children and youth reported ever using illicit drugs and 69% of students reported being enrolled in school
Summary
A vast body of research has documented the relationship between alcohol consumption and interpersonal violence, including individual and group fighting, handgun use, violent attacks, intimate partner violence, arrest for aggravated assault, forcible rape, and homicide Despite the accumulation of studies examining the link between alcohol use and violence, no studies to our knowledge have systematically set out to detect age-related differences in these relationships. This limitation inhibits important insights into the stability of the relationship between alcohol use and violence among youth across varying ages. We conducted logistic regression analyses to examine the cross-sectional association between nonbinge and binge drinking and violent attacks among youth between ages 12 (2002) and 24/25 (2013). Results: With respect to the association between non-binge alcohol use and violence, the only significant relationship identified—while controlling for sociodemographic and drug use factors—was for youth at age 13 (2003; OR = 1.97, 95% CI = 1.04–3.72). Binge drinking was found to be associated with violence among youth through age 20; the relationship dissipates when youth arrive at the legal drinking age of 21
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