Adolescents who __________ report higher rates of physical abuse, sexual abuse, or other violent traumas.

Adolescents who __________ report higher rates of physical abuse, sexual abuse, or other violent traumas.

• A. are not alcoholics
• B. are alcoholics
• C. live in rural areas
• D. are athletes

Answer: (B)

Adolescents with alcohol use problems tend to have higher exposure to and reporting of violent experiences, including physical or sexual abuse. The link works in a few ways: trauma can lead a young person to drink as a way to cope, while heavy drinking increases risk-taking and entering or staying in environments where violence is more common. Alcohol also impairs judgment and self-protection, making abuse more likely or more recognizable later on. Because of these intertwined factors, those identified as alcoholics in adolescent samples often report more violent traumas than youths who are not using alcohol heavily. The other scenarios—not being alcoholics, living in rural areas, or being athletes—don’t show as consistent a connection to higher trauma exposure or reporting in the evidence.

Adolescents with alcohol use problems tend to have higher exposure to and reporting of violent experiences, including physical or sexual abuse. The link works in a few ways: trauma can lead a young person to drink as a way to cope, while heavy drinking increases risk-taking and entering or staying in environments where violence is more common. Alcohol also impairs judgment and self-protection, making abuse more likely or more recognizable later on. Because of these intertwined factors, those identified as alcoholics in adolescent samples often report more violent traumas than youths who are not using alcohol heavily. The other scenarios—not being alcoholics, living in rural areas, or being athletes—don’t show as consistent a connection to higher trauma exposure or reporting in the evidence.