Researches found that adults who reported one of those problems were likely to drink early and use drinking as a coping mechanism.
The study involved a nationally representative sample of American adults who were either current or former drinkers.
Study: Troubled childhood leads to early drinking
A national study published in the Journal Pediatrics links early drinking to five specific circumstances: physical abuse, sexual abuse, living with a mentally ill family member, substance abuse in the home and parents' divorce or separation.
