The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #71512

Margarita R Moscoso, PhD¹, Hector M. Colon, PhD², Iris C Parrilla, MS³, Juan C. Reyes, EdD⁴, Flor Rodriguez, MA⁵, Gilberto Ramos, DrPH⁶, and Rafaela Robles, PhD². (1) School of Education /Department of Family Medicine, University of Puerto Rico /Universidad Central Del Caribe, 1715 California ST, San Gerardo, San Juan, PR 00926, (787)764-0000x4432, mrmoscoso@hotmail.com, (2) Center for Addiction Studies, Universidad Central del Caribe, PO Box 60327, Bayamon, PR 00960-6032, (3) Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, Universidad Central del Caribe, P.O. Box 60-327, Bayamon, PR 00960-6032, (4) Center for Addiction Studies, School of Medicine, Universidad Central del Caribe, PO Box 60327, Bayamón, PR 00960-6032, (5) Family Medicine, Universidad Central Del Caribe, POBOX 60327, Bayamon, PR 00960-6032, (6) School of Public Health, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, Po Box 365067, San Juan, PR 00936

The extent of drug use risk behaviors among adolescents is a great concern for all health prevention workers. The most promising alternative to implement effective prevention strategies is through a risk focus approach. The presentation will present the findings of a school survey called "Consulta Juvenil”. This survey used Catalano et. al. "Student Survey of Risk and Protective Factors and Prevalence of Alcohol, Tobacco & Other Drug" Spanish version questionnaire, adapted and administered to a Puerto Rican stratified Islandwide sample during 2000-2002. A total of 27,975 students in junior and high school in public and private schools in Puerto Rico answered the survey. Alcohol and cigarettes were the most frequently used substances by the students. Other drugs studied were marijuana, heroine, cocaine, crack and other illicit drugs. The ever use prevalence of drug use was 13%. Risk and protective factors were grouped into five domains: individual, family, peer group, school and community. The most significant risk factors identified were antisocial behavior, early initiation in antisocial behavior, favorable attitude toward antisocial behavior, involvement with peers that use drugs, family with history of antisocial behavior, availability of drugs, norms and rules favorable toward drugs and no attachment to school. Perception of drug harmful, religiosity, participation in family decisions and activities and recognition by school, community and family of adolescents’ prosocial involvement were the protective factor significantly associated with substance use. Findings from this study could have important implications for the development of preventive intervention programs for the Hispanic adolescent population.

Learning Objectives:

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• to provide knowledge and understanding of the prevalence of drug use among the Puerto Rican adolescents’ (
• to provide understanding of the prevalence of drug use risk and protective factors in and Hispanic population.

Keywords: Drug Use, Risk Factors

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.