Trends of Adolescent Substance Use by Type of Victimization

Covid-19 Interaction Effects in the United States Youth Risk Behavior Survey (2013–2023)

Bibliographic Data

ID21645995
AuthorsHyejin Gu (0009-0004-6846-4896, Department of Public Health, Graduate School, The Catholic University of Korea), Jun‐Pyo Myong (0000-0001-8674-1034, The Catholic University of Korea Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, corresponding author), Jun-Pyo Myong (Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea)
Year2026
Volume61
Issue8
Pages1112-1122
Publication date2026-07-03
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueSubstance Use & Misuse (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1082-6084 • E-ISSN: 1532-2491
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/10826084.2025.2597457
PMID41359881
OpenAlexW4417135058
LanguageEN
References cited38

Background Adolescent substance use remains a public health concern, particularly among youth exposed to interpersonal victimization. The COVID-19 pandemic has further disrupted social contexts, potentially intensifying disparities in substance use.Methods We analyzed nationally representative data from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (2013–2023), including 52,679 U.S. adolescents. Substance use outcomes included current cigarette use, alcohol use, marijuana use, and other drug use. Victimization types were categorized as school bullying, electronic bullying, sexual victimization, or multiple. Linear logistic regression models were used to assess temporal trends and victimization-by-year interaction effects. Difference-in-differences (DID) regression tested changes across pre-COVID-19 (2019), COVID-19 pandemic (2021), and post-COVID-19 (2023) periods.Results Overall, 27.2% of adolescents reported at least one form of victimization. Adolescent with sexual victimization had higher odds of alcohol use (aOR = 2.79) and other drug use (aOR = 3.65) compared to non-victimized peers. Those reporting multiple victimizations had the highest risk across all substances, particularly for marijuana use (aOR = 3.53) and inhalant use (aOR = 6.45) during the pandemic. Victimization-by-year interactions were significant (p < 0.05), indicating widening disparities over time. While marijuana use declined in 2021, it rebounded in 2023 among multiple victimization group (aOR = 1.72).Conclusions The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated substance use disparities among victimized adolescents, especially those with multiple victimizations. Findings highlight the need for trauma-informed, targeted interventions beyond universal school-based approaches to address these behavioral vulnerabilities

Injury prevention · Pandemic · Poison control · Psychological intervention · Substance use · Suicide prevention · Bullying, Victimization, and Aggression · Child Abuse and Trauma · Gun Ownership and Violence Research · Human Factors and Ergonomics

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