Edessa C. Jobli, MPH, CHES¹, Chudley E. Werch, PhD¹, Michele J. Moore, PhD², and Gemi Butler, BS². (1) Addictive & Health Behaviors Research Institute, University of North Florida, 6852 Belfort Oaks Pl, Jacksonville, FL 32216, 904-631-3917, ejobli@hhp.ufl.edu, (2) Center for Research on Substance Abuse, University of North Florida, 4567 St. Johns Bluff Road South, Jacksonville, FL 32224

The study objective was to determine socio-demographic and substance use behaviors that significantly predict cigarette and marijuana use among a longitudinal cohort of demographically diverse high school students. Participants included 560 students from an inner-city (n=178), suburban (n=175) and rural (n=207) high school. Over half (61%) were females, with a mean age of 15.7 years (SD = .72). Forty six percent (46%) were Blacks, 42% were Whites and 12% were from other ethnicities. A confidential survey was used to collect data in spring of 2002 and 2003 on participant’s living situation, religious attendance, family drug problem, drug education, school performance, social deviance, and specific alcohol beverage and drug use behaviors. Logistic regression analyses were conducted using predictor variables from year 1 and cigarette and marijuana use at year 2. Results revealed that significant predictors for cigarette use included social deviance – skipping school (OR = 2.24), marijuana use (OR = 1.41), male (OR = 2.40), Caucasian (OR = 17.8) and other ethnicities (OR = 7.8). Predictors for marijuana use included poor academic performance (OR = 1.9), lifetime (OR = 3.5) and current use (OR = 1.3) of wine coolers, and current use of fortified wine (OR = 1.4) and liquor (OR = 1.4), p’s < .05. These results indicated that certain socio-demographic and substance use can significantly predict students at-risk of cigarette and marijuana use over time. Efficacy of future drug prevention intervention may be enhanced by including program components that identify and address adolescent’s risk factors.

Learning Objectives:

• 1) Recognize that there are significant predictors of cigarette and marijuana use among youth.
• 2) Identify socio-demographic and risk factors that can significantly predict cigarette and marijuana use among adolescents over time.
• 3) Prioritize substance use prevention program components that can be tailored to high-risk youth for cigarette and marijuana use.

Keywords: Adolescents, Substance Abuse Prevention

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.