Substance Abuse News

Teens who were exposed to alcohol in utero are more likely than their peers to engage in risky behaviors—most notably, hazardous drinking and underage sex, a combination that could perpetuate the intergenerational transmission of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE). The children born to mothers who reported binge drinking in pregnancy were more likely than others to engage in underage sexual activity before age 16 (34% higher odds) and reported a slightly higher number of risky behaviors overall. Higher counts of risky behaviors are linked to increased illness over the lifetime and earlier death. Read more...