Two strikes against them? exploring the influence of a history of poverty and growing up in an alcoholic family on alcohol problems and income

The relationship between poverty and substance abuse is complex and mitigated by many factors. While poverty is a risk factor for adolescent substance abuse, there is little research documenting the relationship beyond adolescence. Using a systematic sample of 1,268 cases from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, this study investigated whether there are synergistic, intergenerational effects of poverty and alcoholism. Results suggest that a co-occurring history of family alcoholism and poverty has a nonlinear relationship with alcohol problems and income as an adult. Young adults who were poor six or more years and lived with an alcoholic relative for nine or more years are at greater risk of having low income and problems with alcohol asan adult compared to others. Implications for policy, practice, and future research are discussed.