Associations among adverse childhood experiences, binge drinking, and higher education among emerging adults

Background: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with greater odds of binge drinking in adulthood. Emerging adulthood is a key period for alcohol initiation, particularly in higher education (HE) environments where binge drinking is common. Objective: To determine whether HE experiences modify the association between ACEs and binge drinking among emerging adults. Participants: Data came from the 2023 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) dataset, including 4,038 respondents aged 18–24 from 10 U.S. States. Methods: Logistic regression estimated associations between ACEs (0–3 vs. 4+) and binge drinking, including an interaction with HE experiences, adjusting for covariates. Predicted probabilities and pairwise comparisons were also estimated. Results: ACEs and HE were both associated with higher odds of binge drinking. A significant interaction indicated the association differed by HE experience. Conclusion: ACEs and HE are independently associated with binge drinking, with evidence of effect modification. Future research should use nationally representative longitudinal data.