IntroductionRecent studies have shown that the number of people receiving alcohol and drug treatment may have been abused as children (Cohen & Densen-Gerber, 1982). Data collected from 178 patients seeking drug/alcohol treatment determined that 84% of patients had a history of abuse as a child (ibid). Young adults who have been physically or sexually assaulted, who have witnessed violence, or who have family members with alcohol or drug problems are at increased risk for current substance abuse or dependence (Malinosky & Hansen, 1993; Duncan, Saunders, Kilpatrick , Hanson , & Resnick, 2010; The purpose of this research is to determine whether children who experienced physical or emotional abuse as children will develop drug or alcohol habits or addictions as adults. The results are expected to indicate a positive correlation among children who have been abused and the future drug habits that may be formed as a result of this prior abuse Surveys will be distributed to collect data; surveys will be administered to 50 people at Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School, in St. Catharines, Ontario limitations of this research that will influence the result are the very limited sample groups, as the sample size of this research is only 50 students. Another limitation will be that students will not be willing to disclose whether they have been abused or developed substance use problems. Literature Review Introduction Recent studies have shown that more than 1 million children in the United States experience some form of abuse or neglect (Widom & Hiller-Sturmhöfel, 2001). Child abuse is a common type of violence associated with the use and abuse of alcohol or drugs, either as a result of the abuse or as a causal factor (ibid). Ac...... middle of paper ......es Among low-income mothers. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 316-326. Retrieved from http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1037/h0087853/abstract Orford, J., & Velleman, R. (2006). Children of parents with alcohol problems: Alcohol and drug use as young adults. British Journal of Addiction, 779-794. Retrieved from http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1360-0443.1990.tb01691.x/abstractWidom, C.S., & Hiller-Sturmhöfel, S. (2001). Alcohol abuse as a risk factor and consequence of child abuse. Retrieved from http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh25-1/52-57.pdfWilsnack, S., Vogeltanz, N., Klassen, A., & Harris, T. (1997). Childhood sexual abuse and substance abuse by women: Results from a national survey. Retrieved from http://www.jsad.com/jsad/article/Childhood_Sexual_Abuse_and_Womens_Substance_Abuse_National_Survey_Finding/416.html