Drug Use by Small Town Mexican American Youth: A Pilot Study

Abstract

While the quality of drug use data for youth of Spanish origin is improving, there is still inadequate information about Mexican American youth in rural areas of the Southwest. A pilot study is presented in which the youth of a small town in the Southwest were surveyed regarding their drug and alcohol use. Mexican American and Anglo youth within that sample are compared on drug use variables and differences by gender are examined. Further comparisons are made with a national sample and a group of urban barrio youth. The literature is reviewed for studies on drug use among youth of the various Spanish-origin groups, and small town and rural drug use.