Personal Substance Use Research Articles

Kids on kids' health: Creating a child health magazine with students from an urban, multicultural, low-income elementary school

Kids on kids' health: Creating a child health magazine with students from an urban, multicultural, low-income elementary school

Extending the Theory of Planned Behavior to Predict Alcohol, Tobacco, and Marijuana Use Among Youth of Mexican Heritage

This study examined the applicability of extending the theory of planned behavior to explain the normative processes in substance use among Mexican-heritage youth. The theory identifies norms, attitudes, and perceived behavioral control as predictors of intentions, which in turn, predict behaviors. To date, the theory had a limited conceptualization of norms and had not been extended to youth of Mexican descent, one of the fastest growing segments of the U.S. population and one at particular risk for alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana use. Based on norm focus theory, it was hypothesized that norms are multidimensional, consisting of parental injunctive, peer injunctive, descriptive, and personal substance use norms. Second, it was hypothesized that parental injunctive, peer injunctive, and descriptive norms indirectly affect substance use intentions through attitudes, personal norms, and perceived behavioral control. The third hypothesis postulated that the model would operate differently based on Mexican-heritage youths' country of origin. Mexican-heritage youth (N = 1,499) from 30 elementary schools in Phoenix, AZ completed questionnaires in three waves over 18 months as part of a larger study. The findings supported the first hypothesis, showing the multidimensionality of norms. The second hypothesis was partially supported by findings from a multi-group multilevel path analysis using Mplus. Descriptive norms' association with intentions was partially mediated by attitudes, personal norms, and perceived behavioral control, while parental and peer injunctive norms were fully mediated, partially supporting the second hypothesis. Contrary to the third hypothesis, the mediation model did not differ based on Mexican-heritage youths' country of origin.

Normative Perceptions, Substance Use, Age of Substance Use Initiation, and Gender as Predictors of HIV‐Risky Sexual Behavior in a College Student Sample1

College students’ personal substance use, age of substance use initiation, and perceptions of their peers’ HIV‐risky sexual behavior were assessed as predictors of personal HIV‐risky sexual behavior. In addition to examining the variables separately by gender, these predictors were evaluated under two different contextual conditions: “drunk or high” and “not drunk or high.” Results indicated that frequency of recent alcohol use for females, frequency of marijuana use for both genders, and frequency of binge drinking for males positively predicted HIV‐risky behavior. In addition, exaggerated perceptions of peer HIV‐risky sexual behavior predicted personal HIV‐risky sexual behavior for both males and females. Finally, later age of marijuana use initiation predicted HIV‐risky sexual behavior for females.

Former Soviet Union Immigrant and Native-Born Adolescents in Israel

Studies on immigration and adolescence show that youth experience a variety of emotional and cognitive adjustments as well as conflicts related to acculturation and the realities of life in their new country. Such conditions place many of them at increased risk for psychosocial problems including personal stress, interpersonal conflicts, mental illness, school failure, delinquency, substance use, and other risk-taking behavior. This prospective study compares the patterns of substance use and problem behaviors among 365 at-risk adolescents born in Israel and those who immigrated to that country from the Former Soviet Union. Findings show that Former Soviet Union youth tend to have higher levels of last 30-day alcohol and ecstasy use and binge drinking. Multiple regression shows binge drinking behavior related to trading property to obtain drugs; deterioration of school achievement; selling drugs; and time spent when being absent from school and hanging around during the day. Country of origin was not found related to this behavior. Further research is needed to study substance use and related problem behavior among immigrant youth controlling for the impact of acculturation and other factors.

The utility of collateral informants in substance use research involving college students

Collateral informants have been routinely included in substance abuse treatment research to corroborate subject self-reported alcohol and other drug use. However, only a few studies to date have examined subject–collateral correspondence with respect to non-clinical populations (e.g., college students). The purpose of the present study was to examine the associations between college students self-reported substance use and corresponding collateral (i.e., friends') reports. A total of 100 subject–collateral pairs were recruited from psychology courses at a large public university located in the Southeastern, United States. Subjects and collaterals provided information specific to their own, as well as their friend's, recent (i.e., last 90-days) substance use. Study data yielded moderate to good, statistically significant, correlations between subject–friend pairs for each type of substance use. Discrepancy analyses revealed that the majority of subjects reported greater substance use relative to their collateral reports. This pattern of response (i.e., subject reporting greater use) is consistent with the extant literature. In addition, the friend's personal substance use appeared to influence his/her report of the subject's alcohol and other drug use. It appears that college student self-reports regarding alcohol and other drug use are reasonably accurate.

Escalation and Initiation of Younger Adolescents’ Substance Use: The Impact of Perceived Peer Use

Purpose The middle school years are peak years for substance use initiation. The current study assessed the impact of peer influence on both initiation and escalation of cigarette, alcohol, and marijuana use among sixth, seventh, and eighth graders. Methods Youth (n = 974; 45% male) were surveyed twice over an academic year and reported on their personal substance use and their perception of peer substance use. The sample ranged in age from 10 to 15 years at Time 1 (M age = 11.95) and was 44% White, 26% Latino, 7% Asian American/Pacific Islander, 4% African American, and 14% mixed ethnic origin. Results Hierarchical regressions examined whether personal and perceived peer substance use predicted later substance involvement, and logistic regressions assessed whether Time 1 perceived peer and personal use of other substances discriminated between initiates and noninitiates. After controlling for personal substance use, perceived peer alcohol use predicted both increased alcohol and marijuana use, and perceived peer marijuana use predicted increased alcohol use. Only perceived peer alcohol use was associated with initiation of alcohol, and both perceived peer alcohol and marijuana use predicted onset of marijuana use. Conclusions Results highlight the importance of perceived peer use in predicting both onset and escalation of use and suggest utilizing a multifaceted prevention approach that targets multiple substances.

Gallinyalla: a town of substance? A descriptive study of alcohol, tobacco, medicines and other drug use in a rural setting

This study investigates substance use in a regional town in South Australia. The study objectives were to identify Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal views on and individual practices in substance use, and its impact on the community. Working together, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal community members identified the scope of the issue of substance use using four broad questions, and where solutions might lie. Individuals also reported their personal substance use. Qualitative methods involving 24 focus groups (n = 211) and 285 key informant interviews (Aboriginal n = 160, non-Aboriginal n = 125) were used to obtain the data. Quantitative data were generated from structured elements of the key informant interviews. Alcohol was the main substance of concern, especially among young people. High marijuana use was also identified. The contribution of substance use to relationship breakdown and the impact this has on families and the community was an important theme. There was agreement on the need for broad community strategies to link and strengthen agencies that deal with substance use issues in Gallinyalla, and to promote the reconciliation process. The implications for policy and practice from this project support the need for substance use strategies in which the community plays a major role.

Normative Perceptions in Relation to Substance Use and HIV-Risky Sexual Behaviors of College Students

In this study, 410 college students completed a survey assessing their personal substance use patterns and sexual behavior and their perceptions of other students' substance use and sexual behavior. Two parallel sets of questions were presented to reflect the two contextual conditions of being drunk or high versus being not drunk or high. Results indicated that number of recent sexual partners and normative perceptions of HIV- risky sexual behavior were the strongest predictors of personal HIV-risky behavior when not drunk or high. HIV-risky behavior when drunk or high was predicted by personal substance use as well as by number of recent partners and normative perceptions of peer sexual behavior. These findings suggest that HIV-prevention programs for college students should aim to correct overinflated perceptions of other students' high-risk sexual behavior.

Sexual compulsivity and substance use in hiv-seropositive men who have sex with men: Prevalence and predictors of high-risk behaviors

Most persons aware of their HIV-positive serostatus refrain from sexual behavior that could transmit HIV infection to others. However, a minority of men who test HIV-seropositive continue to engage in transmission risk behavior. One factor that may play a role in high-risk sexual activity involves sexual behavior self-management. The present study investigated the role of sexual compulsivity as a contributing factor to high-risk sexual behavior in HIV seropositive men who have sex with men ( N = 112). Participants also completed measures of factors known to be related to risky sexual behavior including: personal substance use, sexual partner substance use, pleasure associated with high-risk activities, beliefs about transmission risks, intentions to avoid future instances of risky behavior, and self-esteem. Men scoring high on sexual compulsivity reported engaging in more frequent unprotected sexual acts with more partners, reported greater use of cocaine in conjunction with sexual activity, rated high-risk sexual acts as more pleasurable, and reported lower self-esteem. Mediational analyses indicated that the relationship between sexual compulsivity and high-risk sexual behavior was partially mediated by both personal cocaine use and partner cocaine use in conjunction with sexual activity. The results suggest a need to integrate HIV risk-reduction services and substance use treatment for those persons living with HIV who have difficulty avoiding transmission risk behavior.

WHOSE OX IS BEING GORED?: THE DETERMINANTS OF PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR COERCIVE DRUG CONTROL POLICIES

ABSTRACT This paper examines structured interests and experiential conditions that influence support for coercive drug control policies. The dependent variables measure support for the prohibition of sale of alcohol to persons 18 to 20 years of age, police drug sweeps in areas known for drug dealing, and universal, mandatory testing of employees for illegal drug use. The guiding conceptual framework for this paper is derived from a conflict theoretical perspective. We examine the general proposition that support for these control strategies vary to the extent that persons are potential targets of these measures based on structural characteristics. The data were drawn from a telephone survey of 936 adult residents in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana. We find that there is a powerful influence of age on support for changing the drinking law, but that other structured interests were generally non-influential. Rather, gender, personal substance use, and education were more strongly associated with support for these control strategies. Our discussion focuses on interpreting these findings and their implications for future research.

The development, reliability, and validity of a risk factor screening survey for urban minority junior high school students

To develop and evaluate a risk factor screening survey as a mechanism to identify inner-city junior high school students who may benefit from medical or mental health services available in school-based clinics. A 36-item health risk factor screening survey was developed and administered to 3,787 predominantly Hispanic students from four schools in an economically disadvantaged, medically underserved New York City school district. Students who indicated that they were experiencing one of five major risk factors (suicidality, sexual activity, parental or guardian substance use, personal substance use, or having run away) were scheduled to visit the clinic for services, and to have their survey responses validated by clinic interview. The development of the screening tool resulted in a short, easy to read and understand survey instrument that was feasible to administer within a classroom setting. The reliability of the instrument was excellent, and the results of the validity study indicated that it was successful in identifying students who did not need clinic services. The screening tool produced mixed results in identifying those truly in need through single item identification (e.g., produced a moderate number of "false positives"), although combining items on the screening tool produced much higher positive predictive values. This screening tool can be used to effectively focus limited clinical resources on those in need. Outreach surveys of this type should be considered as a valuable component of a school-based clinic service delivery strategy.

Legal Attitudes, Permissive Norm Qualities, and Substance Use: A Comparison of American Indian and Non-Indian Youth

Youthful drug use violates both formal law and informal norms for conventional behavior. Analyses of influences on permissive drug attitudes and behaviors among adolescents should, therefore, focus on both attitude toward the law and the informal normative climate of these youths. Legal attitude and norm qualities, however, can vary depending on the cultural and situational context. We examine the effect of legal attitude and norm qualities on drug permissiveness attitudes, as well as actual alcohol and marijuana use of 196 adolescents comprising three cultural groups: American Indian residents of a rural community, non-Indian residents of the same community, and transient Indians attending a job-training program in the community. In general, for all three groups, legal attitude primarily affects permissiveness toward drug use, while norm qualities of peers and personal permissiveness influence actual substance use. However, the three cultural groups vary in the relative salience of these variables.

Indicators of Substance Use Among Pregnant Adolescents in the Mississippi Delta

Data were collected from 293 pregnant adolescents living in the southern Illinois section of the Mississippi Delta region concerning their substance use behaviors in 1989 and 1990. Subjects used a variety of drugs in the past and present. For example, 24.4% of the sample reported they presently smoked cigarettes. Alcohol was used by 20.4% in the previous five months, while 5.2% reported marijuana use during the same period. Regression models designed to predict substance use produced adjusted r2 values of .30 (SE = 1.06) for cigarette use, .38 (SE = .49) for marijuana use, and .43 (SE = .59) for alcohol use. Significant indicators included peer and personal substance use behavior, parental substance use, and having previously received mental health treatment.

Indicators of rural youth drug use

The relationships between personal substance use, health beliefs, peer use, sex, and religion were examined using data collected from 265 middle school students in rural northern Michigan and northeastern Wisconsin in January and February 1984. A positive correlation between peer and personal drug use was established. A relationship was also found between health beliefs and personal substance use. In addition, a regression model was able to account for a statistically significant amount of the variance of alcohol, marihuana, and cigarette use in the target population. Recommendations are made concerning future research, methods of improving health education program development, and possible target areas for psychotherapy.

Correlates of early adolescent peer and personal substance use in rural northern Michigan

Data were collected from 181 middle school students in rural northern Michigan during May 1982. Student responses concerning peer and personal use of alcohol and nicotine were analyzed. The results suggest that peer substance use is highly correlated with personal substance use, and increases significantly with age. Sexual differences were also noted. This article describes the powerful correlates between peer and personal alcohol and nicotine use (i.e., cigarette smoking), and suggests some hypotheses for this phenomenon.