Predictors of Early Alcohol and Substance Abuse

Biological Psychiatry published a study in which researchers examined environmental and genetic predictors of early alcohol use. 127 subjects—76 maltreated children and 51 controls—were evaluated for the following predictors: maltreatment, family history of substance or alcohol abuse, and serotonin transporter genotype (5-HTTLPR). 29% of maltreated children reported alcohol use, >7 the rate found in controls, and maltreated children drank earlier than controls (11.2 years vs. 13.5 years). According to the authors, identifying predictors such as 5-HTTLPR, maltreatment, and relevant family history can aid prevention and intervention efforts for high-risk children.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=17123474

-LS