Exploring the Relationship Between Childhoood Sexual Abuse and Substance Use Among Women

Childhood sexual abuse can lead to a lifetime of negative health outcomes and disorders. These outcomes include problems of substance use, other high-risk behaviors, and psychological and biological disorders with increasing rates of morbidity and mortality, thus making this relationship a significant public health issue. This literature review focuses on the relationship of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) to substance use disorders and problem use in women. The rate of substance use and abuse among women is significantly higher in CSA victims than in the general population. However, this relationship is very complex due to various other factors found to play a role in this relationship. Literature on third factors (e.g., PTSD, neurobiological disorders, poor social outcomes, depression, other forms of abuse, and family and environmental factors), are examined for their possible role in this relationship and their implications for treatment of childhood sexual abuse and substance use