Alcohol-related victimization among young adult Canadian drinkers: the explanatory roles of hazardous drinking and illicit drug use.
OBJECTIVE
Consistent evidence has shown that young people are significantly overrepresented among victims of violence due to another person's drinking. Yet little research has examined factors that explain alcohol-related victimization among young adults, particularly in Canada. The present study examines the influence of hazardous drinking and illicit drug use on the likelihood of experiencing alcohol-related physical victimization among young adult drinkers in a Canadian general population sample and determines whether gender differences exist in the roles of these explanatory variables.


METHODS
A secondary analysis of the 2004 Canadian Addiction Survey (CAS) was conducted, restricting analyses to young adult (ages 18 to 25) drinkers (785 females, 745 males). Logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine associations between explanatory variables and victimization. To assess gender differences in effects, interaction effects of gender by hazardous drinking and illicit drug use were tested.


RESULTS
Alcohol-related victimization was more likely among men than among women, hazardous drinkers than non-hazardous drinkers, and illicit drug users than non-users. Multivariate analyses indicated that, among women, illicit drug use was associated with victimization whereas, among men, hazardous drinking was significant. An interaction effect between gender and hazardous drinking indicated that hazardous drinking was more strongly associated with victimization among men than among women.


CONCLUSIONS
These results highlight the important role of substance use in explaining alcohol-related victimization among young adult Canadian drinkers and suggest that gender-specific prevention programs may be needed.
Wells
Samantha L
SL
Social Prevention and Health Policy Research Department, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 100 Collip Circle, Suite 200, London, ON N6G 4X8. swells@uwo.ca
Thompson
Jennie Mae
JM
D000293:Adolescent; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012737:Sex Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult