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Patricia Ann Clubb, PhD, Drug Abuse Research Program, Morgan State University, 1700 E Cold Spring Lane, Montebello Building, Room D103, Baltimore, MD 21251, 828-225-0471, PattyClubb@aol.com
An understanding of health issues among African Americans requires a balanced approach that recognizes health disparities, as well as areas in which African Americans evidence a lower prevalence of risk behaviors. For instance, although African Americans youth are more likely to report engaging in sexual intercourse, they are less likely to indicate substance use. In addition, research must take into account the co-morbidity that exists among risk behaviors, as well as the complex array of risk and protective factors that contribute to these behaviors. The goal of this session is to provide an overview of findings from the Reaching Adolescents, Parents, and Peers (Project RAPP) study, which were part of an NIH cooperative agreement, the Research on Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Violence, and Pregnancy Prevention (RSVPP). The goal of Project RAPP was to develop, implement, and evaluate a multi-staged, targeted intervention intended to reduce the prevalence of violence, early and unprotected sexual activity, and violence among inner-city middle-school minority youth living in the southeastern United States. A wide range of findings regarding substance use have emerged from this study, including the impact of perceived discrimination on substance use, risk and protective factors (e.g., ethnic identity, religiosity) for the onset and use of substances, and the relationship of longitudinal patterns of substance use to those of other risk behaviors.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Health Disparities, Drug Abuse
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.