Abstract
<title>Abstract</title> <p> Violence victimization can increase risk for adolescent alcohol misuse. However, prior research has typically examined either specific victimization experiences in isolation or has summed multiple such experiences into a simple count score, often within general population samples. Existing studies are limited because victimized youth tend to experience multiple types of violence that vary considerably in severity, particularly among those from minoritized and underprivileged groups. This study examines which of several violence victimization experiences are related to risky drinking while testing for sex differences in a large sample of American Indian (AI) youth who live on or near AI reservations. Secondary analyses of cross-sectional cohort data collected from AI adolescents ( <italic>n</italic> = 3,498; 50.5% male) living on or near AI reservations from 2009 to 2013 were conducted. Violence victimization experiences (beaten up, threatened with a weapon, hurt with a weapon, sexually assaulted, and robbed) were examined as predictors of latent risky drinking (LRD), indicated by drinking frequency, heavy episodic drinking (HED), and drunkenness. Multiple group structural equation modeling by sex was conducted, adjusting for demographic factors and frequency of alcohol use. Being beaten up, hurt with a weapon, and sexually assaulted had significant positive adjusted associations with LRD. No sex differences were found for any type of violence victimization in relation to LRD. Culturally sensitive screening and referral initiatives may help support vulnerable youth, including AI youth, to prevent alcohol misuse following severe victimization experiences. </p>