Childhood Cancer Survivorship and Substance Use Behaviors: A Matched Case-Control Study Among Hispanic Adolescents and Young Adults

Abstract

PurposeThis case-control study compared substance use behaviors between Hispanic adolescent and young adult survivors of childhood cancers (cases) and a community sample of participants without cancer (controls). MethodsA total of 100 cases were matched to controls (200 participants) one to one by ethnicity, age, and sex (mean age at survey 19.27, standard deviation = 1.92). Differences in self-reported previous 30-day use of tobacco, alcohol, binge drinking of alcohol, and marijuana were examined using conditional multivariable logistic regression. ResultsThe odds of tobacco, alcohol, binge drinking, and marijuana use were significantly lower for cases than for controls (all p's <.05). When stratified by age, cases (vs. controls) under 21 years of age reported lower levels of substance use (all p's <.05), whereas differences over the age of 21 were nonsignificant. ConclusionsLower levels of substance use among Hispanic adolescent and young adult survivors of childhood cancers (vs. controls) are most apparent at younger ages. Future work needs to examine a potential delay in initiation of use among survivors.