The possibility of racial differences in this link - between Black and White youth in particular – is suggested by the lower prevalence of alcohol use [3–6] and later initiation of use in Black youth [7–9] despite the higher prevalence of childhood trauma. Elevated prevalence of trauma exposure in Black vs. White children and adolescents have been observed for maltreatment [10] as well as community violence [11]. The paradoxical finding of greater childhood trauma exposure but lower prevalence of early drinking in Black youth suggests that the link between the two may differ for Black and White adolescents. A broader view of the environmental context of childhood trauma exposure and the development of drinking behaviors is needed to better understand their link and how it may differ for Black vs. White youth.
