Genetic and psychosocial predictors of alcohol use trajectories among disaster‐exposed adolescents

Background and Objectives Adolescent alcohol misuse is associated with numerous long‐term adverse outcomes, so we examined predictors of alcohol use among disaster‐exposed adolescents, a group at‐risk for alcohol misuse. Methods The current study (n = 332) examined severity of tornado‐related exposure, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, emotional support, and a genetic risk sum score (GRSS) as predictors of alcohol use trajectories. Results Severity of exposure interacted with the GRSS to predict both intercept (12‐month follow up quantity of alcohol use) and growth rate. Emotional support also interacted with adolescent PTSD symptoms to predict intercept and growth rate. Discussion and Conclusions Adolescents with greater severity of disaster exposure and high genetic risk comprise a high risk group, on which efforts to prevent alcohol use should be focused. Additionally, emotional support is essential in buffering the effects of PTSD symptoms on alcohol use outcomes among adolescents. Scientific Significance Toward the aim of reducing adolescent alcohol misuse following disaster exposure, there is utility in inserting immediate supports (e.g., basic resources) into communities/families that have experienced significant disaster‐related severity, particularly among adolescents at high levels of genetic risk for alcohol use/misuse. Additionally, prevention efforts aimed at improving emotional supports for adolescents with more PTSD symptoms may reduce propensity for alcohol misuse following disaster. This information can be easily incorporated into existing web‐based interventions. (Am J Addict 2017;26:623–631)