Nonetheless, our results suggest that preventive efforts must be multifaceted with involvement at the familial and individual levels. Specifically, the current study provided evidence that parental alcohol dependence is associated with early sexual debut. Thus, it appears advantageous for clinical treatments and prevention efforts to be family-focused and include both parents. Furthermore, the current study suggests that programs that target conduct disordered and substance abusing youth should incorporate such issues as STD/pregnancy prevention within their interventions because individuals with these conditions may initiate sexual intercourse earlier, which can place them at risk for these conditions.
