Cigarette smoking and alcohol use are culturally associated behaviors. Much work has been done on cigarette smoking and alcohol use as well as the associations between the two. However, little is known about ethnic differences in the associations. This study analyzed data collected by the WestEd. 13,374 subjects (7,311 ninth and 6,063 twelfth graders) entered the analysis. Subjects were selected in all California schools that met two criteria: at least 200 students of Asian ancestry, and Asians made up at least 25% of the total enrollment in these two grades. Data were collected in classrooms with a paper-and-pencil questionnaire. The risk ratio for 30-day alcohol use among lifetime smokers as compared to never smokers was used for measuring the impact of cigarette smoking on alcohol use. Comparisons of the risk ratio were made among 11 ethnic groups: White, Black, Asian Indian, Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Mexican, South & Central American, and multi-ethnicity. There was a strong association between cigarette smoking and 30-day alcohol use (risk ratio from 2.3 to 28.8). The risk ratio (9+) was the highest among Asian Indian and Vietnamese Americans; average for Whites (about 7), and the lowest for others (6-). Adolescents with similar cultural origin showed similar levels of risk, and this risk pattern existed even after controlling for influence of acculturation, school performance and family. Certain culture traits associated with smoking and drinking may play important roles in ethnic differences in the impact of cigarette smoking on alcohol use.
Learning Objectives: 1. This abstract provides information about how initiation of cigarette smoking affect alcohol use among adolescents by ethnicity, and it is very useful for substance abuse prevention among ethnically diverse population. 2. This is useful for people who are working on tobacco and alcohol use prevention programs to fine-tuining their programs about multiple drug use for different ethnic minority groups
Keywords: Adolescents, Substance Abuse
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.