Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #108985

Mohammad R. Torabi, PhD, MPH, Department of Applied Health Science, Indiana University, HPER Building Room 116, 1025 East 7th Street, Bloomington, IN 47405-7109, 812 855-3627, torabi@indiana.edu and Mi Kyung Jun, PhD, MPH, Indiana Prevention Resource Center, Indiana University, Creative Arts Building Room 110, 2735 East 10th Street, Bloomington, IN 47408.

INTRODUCTION: Alcohol, tobacco and other drug (ATOD) use prevention interventions targeting adolescents have mainly focused on increasing knowledge about harmful effects of drugs, changing attitudes and beliefs toward drug use and promoting refusal skills. However, ATOD use among adolescents may also be influenced by absence of adult supervision, in particular during after-school hours. This study examined whether there is a relationship between adult supervision and adolescent ATOD use. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among Indiana 6th through 12th grade students in 2004. The total number of students in this analysis was 91,331. The study sample consisted of 49% male students and 82% Caucasian. RESULTS: Over 50% of both male and female students reported having used one or more substances during the past year. The prevalence of various substances increased steadily from 6th to 12th grade. Forty-five percent of male and 49% of female students reported being home without adult supervision more than 30 days during after school hours. Students who had unsupervised after-school hours for 30 or more days during the past year were more likely to use substances compared with those who had less than 30 days unsupervised after school hours (Chi-square = 3472.729, df = 1, p < .000). This pattern was consistent between male and female students and throughout all grade levels. CONCLUSIONS: Considering the association between adolescent ATOD use and the amount of unsupervised time, ATOD use prevention interventions should emphasize adult involvement in supervised after-school activities at home, schools or other community settings.

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