7 Ethnic Differences In Risk Factors Associated With Substance Use In Adolescence

Abstract

This chapter explores ethnic differences related to family and friend substance use, social supports, and beliefs about the future as predictors of risks and protective factors for substance use among these adolescents. The data for this research study come from the Youth Plus Survey, which is a component of a larger longitudinal study funded by the federal Center for Substance Abuse Prevention. The goal of the Youth Plus Survey is to identify factors related to early adolescent substance use that would assist in the development of substance abuse prevention programs targeting middle school aged children. Data for the Youth Plus Survey are collected from four cohorts. In this study no significant ethnic differences with regard to social support and respondent optimism about the future are found, which are thought to be factors protecting adolescents from risk of substance use. With regard to risk factors, it is found that minority youth reported higher rates of substance use for family members and friends compared to white respondents. Thus, there appear to be no differences in the moderating effects of social networks on the process—that is, the interactions among family/friend use and social supports and future beliefs, or in the protective factors for adolescent substance use among ethnic groups. However, there were ethnic differences in the level of risk for substance use.