Abstract

Women report extensive histories of childhood abuse, often leading to addiction. Studies assessing the same effects for men are lacking. This study describes childhood adverse events (CAEs) among methamphetamine (MA)-dependent men and women and assesses the relationship of CAEs to the onset and severity of dependence. Baseline and three-year interview data were collected for 236 men and 351 women. Dependent variables included onset of MA and severity of dependence. Women reported greater occurrence of all types of CAEs than men (28% vs. 13%, p < .01). Familial substance abuse was most predictive of onset for men and of dependence severity for women. The collective impact of CAEs was related to both age of onset and severity. This demonstrates the intergenerational cycle of addiction, and indicates the need for early intervention, which could prevent the onset of MA use and reduce the course of addiction.