Exposure to abuse as a young child is related to early alcohol initiation, according to a survey of public school students attending schools in a high-risk urban area.

Youths who reported experiencing physical or sexual abuse before age 10 were more likely than those who had not to begin drinking alcohol before age 13. Furthermore, youths who reported witnessing domestic violence between their parents/guardians were also more likely to begin drinking at an early age, at a rate similar to those youths reporting direct abuse.

According to the authors, these findings suggest that the "prevention and treatment of the negative impact of early child maltreatment may delay and reduce alcohol use."