by examining the effects of specific trauma and considering the transitions to first AUD problem and AUD diagnosis from alcohol initiation. By considering transitions from initiation to later stages, we were able to parse out the effects of trauma exposures on alcohol initiation from those on progression to an AUD symptom and AUD diagnosis, given exposure to alcohol use. The current findings suggest, in general, trauma exposure impacts initiation of alcohol use and transition to an AUD symptom and remains a significant risk factor for transition from initiation to AUD in EA women. PTSD did not significantly increase hazard of any alcohol outcome suggesting a direct relationship between trauma exposure and alcohol related behaviors. Our findings lend some support to the self-medication hypothesis – SA increased risk for alcohol initiation and AUD diagnosis and PA increased risk for onset of AUD symptoms and AUD diagnosis – but findings also link more passive trauma exposure (i.e. witnessing injury or death) with transition to AUD diagnosis in EA women. The majority of those who endorsed “witnessing another being killed or injury” (62.4%) first experience this type of trauma after they had already initiated drinking. Therefore, as our analyses relied on time-varying data,
