The current study builds on previous investigations (Sartor et al., 2010; Sartor et al 2013b) by examining the unique contributions of specific trauma exposure types and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to increasingly severe levels of alcohol involvement in EA and AA women. In addition, this study will examine racial differences in timing and prevalence of multiple stages of alcohol involvement – alcohol initiation, transition to first AUD problem, and transition to AUD diagnosis. As such the aims of the current study are to a) characterize racial differences in alcohol involvement and b) examine the risk conferred by specific trauma exposures and PTSD for different stages of alcohol involvement – alcohol use, transition to first AUD symptom, and transition to AUD diagnosis – in EA and AA women, while also considering the contribution or other substance involvement and psychiatric factors.
