Exploring racial/ethnic differences in substance use: a preliminary theory-based investigation with juvenile justice-involved youth
| Autor: | Angela D. Bryan, Hilary K. Mead, Sarah W. Feldstein Ewing, Kamilla L. Venner |
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| Rok vydání: | 2010 |
| Předmět: |
Male
Adolescent Substance-Related Disorders Ethnic group 030508 substance abuse Poison control substance use juvenile justice Suicide prevention Sampling Studies 03 medical and health sciences 0302 clinical medicine Risk Factors Environmental health Substance Use Category Injury prevention medicine Juvenile delinquency Southwestern United States Humans 030212 general & internal medicine Pediatrics Perinatology and Child Health 10. No inequality business.industry Racial Groups lcsh:RJ1-570 lcsh:Pediatrics race/ethnicity medicine.disease Substance abuse Adolescent Behavior Pediatrics Perinatology and Child Health Juvenile Delinquency Female Racial/ethnic difference 0305 other medical science business Demography Research Article |
| Zdroj: | BMC Pediatrics BMC Pediatrics, Vol 11, Iss 1, p 71 (2011) |
| ISSN: | 1471-2431 |
| Popis: | Background Racial/ethnic differences in representation, substance use, and its correlates may be linked to differential long-term health outcomes for justice-involved youth. Determining the nature of these differences is critical to informing more efficacious health prevention and intervention efforts. In this study, we employed a theory-based approach to evaluate the nature of these potential differences. Specifically, we hypothesized that (1) racial/ethnic minority youth would be comparatively overrepresented in the juvenile justice system, (2) the rates of substance use would be different across racial/ethnic groups, and (3) individual-level risk factors would be better predictors of substance use for Caucasian youth than for youth of other racial/ethnic groups. Methods To evaluate these hypotheses, we recruited a large, diverse sample of justice-involved youth in the southwest (N = 651; M age = 15.7, SD = 1.05, range = 14-18 years); 66% male; 41% Hispanic, 24% African American, 15% Caucasian, 11% American Indian/Alaska Native). All youth were queried about their substance use behavior (alcohol, marijuana, tobacco, illicit hard drug use) and individual-level risk factors (school involvement, employment, self-esteem, level of externalizing behaviors). Results As predicted, racial/ethnic minority youth were significantly overrepresented in the juvenile justice system. Additionally, Caucasian youth reported the greatest rates of substance use and substance-related individual-level risk factors. In contrast, African American youth showed the lowest rates for substance use and individual risk factors. Contrary to predictions, a racial/ethnic group by risk factor finding emerged for only one risk factor and one substance use category. Conclusions This research highlights the importance of more closely examining racial/ethnic differences in justice populations, as there are likely to be differing health needs, and subsequent treatment approaches, by racial/ethnic group for justice-involved youth. Additionally, this study highlights the need for timely, empirically supported (developmentally and cross-culturally) substance abuse interventions for all justice-involved youth. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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