Fortier CB, Whitworth JW, Fonda JR, et al. - In post-9/11 Veterans, researchers investigated if early adolescent binge drinking (BD) raises the risk for and/or severity of psychopathology and if mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) has any impact on that risk. Researchers divided post-9/11 Veterans (n = 375) into Veterans with a history of early adolescent BD (n = 57; E-BD; age of onset < 15) and those who did not BD until age 15 or older (n = 318; late-BD or L-BD; the age of onset ≥ 15). They further evaluated the history of military mTBI and mental health disorders after military service. A significantly greater prevalence of alcohol use disorders (AUDs) and more severe symptoms of AUD, substance use disorder (SUD), depression and stress was seen among E-BDs. Veterans with a history of both early adolescent BD and military mTBI vs those with only a history of adolescent BD were at higher risk for a PTSD diagnosis and their PTSD symptoms were more severe. Study results highlight that mTBI, which is commonly seen among post-9/11 Veterans, exacerbates risk.