VIDEO: Most victims of incest, child sexual abuse report addiction as adults

WASHINGTON — The vast majority of incest and child sexual abuse survivors report experiencing addiction as adults, according to study findings presented at the AAP National Conference & Exhibition.

Researchers at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles developed an anonymous online questionnaire that was filled out by 1,310 respondents, 84% of whom reported enduring child abuse for more than 1 year. Around half reported experiencing abuse before age 6 years.

When asked if they suffered from addiction, 85% of respondents answered “yes,” according to Varsha M. Puri, DO, an attending physician at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and co-author of the study.

Puri told Healio that it is crucial to advocate for the removal of the statute of limitations on reporting child sexual abuse.

“There’s a lot of shame and secrecy around these topic, and so little research has been done,” Puri says in the above video. “If we listen to [survivors], then we will have more guidance as to how to prevent this further in the future.”

References:

Puri VM, et al. Abstract P3A154. Presented at: AAP National Conference & Exhibition; Oct. 20-24, 2023; Washington, D.C.