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John M. Bolland, PhD, Brad E. Lian, PhD, Joan M. Barth, PhD, and Debra McCallum, PhD. Institute for Social Science Research, University of Alabama, P.O. Box 870216, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, 205-348-3821, jbolland@bama.ua.edu
Adult substance abusers typically trace the onset of their use to adolescence. Drug prevention and intervention models are thus increasingly considering and targeting younger populations. This may be especially relevant and needed regarding low-income populations and neighborhoods, where prevalence rates of drug use among teens have remained relatively stable over the past decade despite an intense public health promotion campaign.
During the past several years we have conducted a longitudinal multiple cohort study in very low-income neighborhoods that allows us to examine some of the correlates and causes of substance initiation and usage among adolescents growing up under such circumstances. We surveyed a total of 5,211 youths aged 10-18 between 1998 and 2002. The survey consisted of 294 multiple choice questions and addressed a number of psychosocial variables, adapted from existing scales and modified for our sample. It also included questions concerning the respondent’s risk behaviors (e.g., violence and substance use), circumstances (e.g., family structure, peer relationships), attitudes, and feelings (e.g., self-worth, hopelessness, future orientation, support from neighborhood).
We conducted repeated measures mixed model analyses on several subsets (based on age and gender) within our sample, using lagged measures in a Granger causality framework in order to increase our confidence regarding the causality of these relationships. Our results suggest that factors associated with the initiation and perpetuation of drug use vary even within adolescence, a period marked by developmental changes. Consequently, prevention and intervention models aimed at reducing unhealthy behaviors should continue to be refined.
Learning Objectives:
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.