Acculturation and drug use among dually diagnosed Hispanic adolescents

With drug abuse among Hispanic youth on the rise, examining cultural factors such as acculturation may provide insight into understanding and addressing this problem. This study examined the relationship between acculturation and severity of drug use among a sample of severely impaired Hispanic adolescents referred for residential substance abuse treatment. As recent studies with clinical samples have found, it was hypothesized that lower levels of acculturation would be associated with higher levels of substance use. Results indicated that youth born outside the United States reported greater frequency of drug use at intake into treatment than those born in the United States, supporting the hypothesis.     

The influence of attitudes, acculturation, and gender on substance use for Mexican American middle school students

The present study tested if current drug use was related to acculturation (measured by language spoken at home), gender, or youth attitudes towards drugs in a large sample of 8th grade, predominantly Mexican American, Hispanic youth. The data were obtained via self-report survey from 2964 Hispanic youth in 108 schools. Hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) was used to test if acculturation, gender, or youth attitudes towards drugs predicted past 30-day use of alcohol, inhalant, or marijuana use and assess school-level influences. Acculturation and gender interacted with attitudes towards drugs to predict current alcohol use. Gender interacted with attitudes towards drugs to predict current alcohol and inhalant use. Having positive attitudes towards drugs was related to increased substance use for all three drug types. Hispanic eighth grade girls had significantly higher use rates than boys for both alcohol and inhalants. Additional research is needed to better understand the influence of acculturation on substance use among Hispanic youth.     

Patterns of substance use onset among Hispanics in Puerto Rico and the United States

PURPOSE: Examine patterns of progression in substance use among Hispanic youth 13 to 17 years of age from two longitudinally representative studies. METHOD: Patterns of substance use among youth in Puerto Rico were examined using a longitudinal study (n=663) of adolescents living on the island. The National Longitudinal Study of Youth was used to examine patterns of substance use among Hispanics living in the United States (n=1,445). Latent transition analysis was used to estimate the probability of membership in each stage of substance use and incidence of transitions between different substance use stages over time. RESULTS: Six stages best described the heterogeneity in substance use among youth in Puerto Rico. Five stages were sufficient to describe patterns of substance use among youth in the United States. Youth living in Puerto Rico reported lower rates of smoking and illicit drug use, but higher rates of alcohol use, when compared with rates among Hispanics in the United States. DISCUSSION: Similar patterns of substance use were identified for Hispanic youth living in the United States and youth living in Puerto Rico.     

Substance use in rural adolescents: The impact of social capital,anti-social capital,and social capital deprivation

Middle- and high-school substance use is a pressing public health problem in the United States. Despite similar or, in some cases, elevated rates of substance use among rural youth, much of the extant research on adolescent substance use has focused on urban areas. The current study aims to uncover forms of social capital (e.g., ethnic identity), social capital deprivation (e.g., parent-child conflict), and anti-social capital (e.g., delinquent friends) that impact the use of alcohol, cigarettes, and marijuana in a sample of middle- and high-school students from the rural south. It was hypothesized that social capital factors would be associated with decreased substance use while social capital deprivation and anti-social capital factors would be associated with increased substance use. The hypotheses were tested using logistic regression models with generalized estimating equations. The findings indicated that for middle school youth, anti-social capital in the form of aggression and delinquent friends was significantly associated with an increased likelihood of using alcohol, cigarettes, and marijuana. For high school students, anti-social capital in the form of aggression and delinquent friends and social capital deprivation in the form of neighborhood crime were significantly associated with an increased likelihood of using alcohol, cigarettes, and marijuana. Violent behavior was also significantly associated with an increased likelihood of using marijuana. Females reported less substance use in both middle and high school; reports of use increased with age. Implications are discussed. Given the salience of social capital deprivation, substance use programs should emphasize the skills necessary to avoid or disengage from antisocial relationships.     

Protective and Risk Factors Associated with Drug Use Among Hispanic Youth

Analysis of data from a nationally representative sample of Hispanic youths age 12-17 and their parents was done to investigate the impact of a number of variables on youths' drug-using behavior. The significance of youth, household, and parental characteristics were tested using measures of youth drug use as dependent variables in regression models. Parents' attitudes and use of licit and illicit drugs were found to play an important role in their children's drug use behavior. The results also provide some support for theh hypothesis that Hispanic children whose parents are more acculturated into American society are at higher risk of using drugs. Youths of Mexican origin, youths living outside large metropolitan areas, and females were found to be more likely to use drugs. The results provide supportive evidence that for drug prevention education programs to be effective with Hispanic youths, they must be family oriented.     

Stress burden, drug dependence and the nativity paradox among U.S. Hispanics

It seems well established that exposure to social stress, including acculturation stress, increases risk for psychiatric and substance problems, and that the disadvantaged experience higher levels of such exposure. Such evidence points to the expectation that immigrant minority groups must be at elevated risk relative to their native-born counterparts. That the opposite appears to be true for various immigrant groups within the U.S. constitutes what has been referred to as the nativity health paradox. This paper examines the association between nativity and drug dependence among the distinctive and understudied Hispanic population of South Florida and attempts to evaluate competing explanations for the apparent advantage of immigrant populations. Based on data on a representative sample young adults of Cuban and other Hispanic backgrounds (n=888), we found the paradox to be limited to women and confirmed the finding of prior research that acculturation plays a major role in explaining this difference in risk. We also found cumulative exposure to major and potentially traumatic events to be lower rather than higher among immigrants, to be a strong predictor of drug dependence and to contribute importantly toward accounting for observed nativity differences among women. Taken together, cumulative stress exposure and degree of acculturation explained 40% of the nativity difference. Finally, our results suggest that social support matters for risk primarily because such support more effectively acts to reduce exposure to social stress among foreign-born young Hispanic women.     

Inhalant use among incarcerated adolescents in the United States: prevalence, characteristics, and correlates of use

OBJECTIVE: To characterize patterns and correlates of inhalant use among incarcerated youth. METHOD: Residents (N=723) of 27 Missouri Division of Youth Services facilities completed interviews assessing substance use, psychiatric symptoms, antisocial traits, trauma, suicidality, and criminality. RESULTS: Participants averaged 15.5 (S.D.=1.2) years of age, were ethnically diverse, and predominantly male. More than one-third (36.9%) reported lifetime inhalant use; 47.9% of users had tried four or more inhalant products. Comparatively high rates of use were observed for Hispanic and small town/rural youth. Commonly abused agents included gasoline (22%), permanent markers (15%), computer "air duster," (15%) and spray paint (12%). Inhalant users evidenced significantly higher levels of criminal behavior, antisocial attitudes, current psychiatric symptoms, earlier onset of offending and substance use, and more extensive histories of head injury, kidney disease, hormonal problems, mental illness, suicidality, trauma, and substance-related problems than nonusers. In multiple logistic regression models, race/ethnicity, geographic area of residence, fearlessness, suicidality, and polydrug use distinguished inhalant users and nonusers. Measures of cognitive impairment, impulsivity, fearlessness, blame externalization, polydrug use, and substance-related problems were positively associated with lifetime frequency of inhalant use. CONCLUSIONS: Inhalant use was widespread in this sample and associated with serious physical and mental health impairments.     

Inhalant use among antisocial youth: prevalence and correlates

The current (2.9%), annual (19.6%), and lifetime (34.3%) prevalence of inhalant use among 475 youth (M age = 15.5; SD = 1.5; 87.4% male) on probation in a western state of the United States was assessed. Inhalant users reported significantly less family support and cohesiveness and lower self-esteem, and significantly more lifetime thoughts of suicide and suicide attempts, neighborhood gang activity, peer and parental substance abuse, intentions to engage in illegal behavior, substance-related criminality, and substance abuse than did nonusers. Ethnicity, self-esteem, suicidality, number of substance-using peers, and extent of substance-related criminality significantly discriminated inhalant users from nonusers in a logistic regression analysis. Multiple linear regression analyses indicated that age, perceived school ability, age at initiation of alcohol use, self-esteem, and substance-related criminality significantly predicted age at onset of inhalant use (R2 = .30). Age at initiation of inhalant use, gang membership, truancy, and substance-related criminality significantly predicted lifetime frequency of inhalant use (R2 = .20). Study findings indicate that inhalant-using delinquents evidence significantly greater antisocial attitudes, personal and familial dysfunction, and substance abuse, than do their non-inhalant-using counterparts.     

Common predictors of cigarette smoking,alcohol use,aggression, and delinquency among inner-city minority youth

The present study examined the prevalence rates and common predictors of substance use, aggression, and delinquency among inner-city minority youth entering middle school. A survey was administered to sixth grade students (N=5442) from 42 New York City schools. Aggressive behaviors were reported most frequently, followed by delinquent behaviors, alcohol use, and cigarette smoking. Across all behavioral outcomes, social and environmental influences explained the largest proportion of variance, followed by individual characteristics and skills, bonding to conventional institutions, and demographic variables. For the majority of predictor variables, there was substantial overlap in patterns of prediction across outcomes. These findings indicate that several factors that correspond to the predominant psychosocial theories of adolescent development explain variation across different problem behavior outcomes among inner-city minority youth.     

Trends in alcohol, drug and cigarette use among Haitian youth in Miami-Dade county, Florida

The objective of this article is to report on prevalence of drug and cigarette use among a segment of Haitian youth in the United States. The article is an argument in favor of contextualizing knowledge about drug use among young people across socioethnic lines. Because initiation of licit and illicit drugs tends to occur during adolescence, ethnic differentiation is crucial if we are to understand the drug experience among young people in the United States. Immigration, acculturation, and identity processes are critical in refuting the conventional racial categorization commonly used for interpretation of risks and behaviors among youth in the United States. The task of bringing empirical evidence to bear on drug use and drug choices by young people from different contexts will lead to the re-examination of patterns of drug use as well as to creative ways of conceptualizing these patterns.     

Drinking in adulthood: similarities and differences in effects of adult roles for Hispanic ethnic groups and Anglos

OBJECTIVE: This study examines whether the adult social roles perspective. an approach that explains drinking behaviors for Anglos, similarly affects alcohol use by Cubans, Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans and Other Hispanics (Central and South Americans). METHOD: The 1993 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, a national probability sample of the household population in the United States, is used. The sample utilized here (N= 13,822; 56.2% female) consisted of 9,388 Anglos, 611 Cubans, 2,459 Mexican Americans, 611 Puerto Ricans and 753 Central/South Americans age 18 and older. The outcome measures include past-year drinking, and for drinkers, heavy drinking and alcohol-related problems. Logistic regression analyses are conducted using Stata. RESULTS: The results show that there are some ethnic differences in the effects of the adult social roles. Of particular importance is the finding that being married has anomalous effects for Cubans (heavy drinking), Mexican Americans (problems) and Other Hispanics (problems) compared with Anglos and the other Hispanic ethnic groups. CONCLUSIONS: The adult social roles perspective has some utility for explaining Hispanic drinking patterns. Future research should consider not only traditional predictors of drinking but also such socio-cultural factors as acculturation and familism, to better understand adult alcohol use by members of Hispanic ethnic groups.     

Gender Differences in Alcohol and Drug Use Among Hispanic Adults: The Influence of Family Processes and Acculturation

We examines the influence of family processes and acculturation for gender differences in alcohol and drug use among a sample representative of the Hispanic population in Miami-Dade County, Florida (N = 734). We found that (a) increases in age at marriage and acculturation were associated with greater substance use, (b) the associations between age at marriage, acculturation, and substance use were found to be greater for Hispanic women than men, and (c) with each additional child born, Hispanic women are increasingly less likely to use substances than Hispanic men. Data reveal that family processes and acculturation jointly impact substance use.     

Family Functioning, Substance Use and Related Problem Behaviors: Hispanic vs. Anglo Runaway Youths

Runaway youths represent a neglected clinical group, and few studies have examined ethnicity differences within this population. Substance use, family functioning and related problem behaviors were examined in a sample of Hispanic and Anglo runaway youths with substance abuse diagnoses (N = 145). Youths, aged 12-17, were recruited from two urban, southwestern runaway shelters. Within single-parent families, Anglo youths reported more marijuana use, and, regardless of family constitution, reported more tobacco use than did Hispanic youths. Overall, Anglo youths reported more externalizing problems and more conflict tactics used in resolving disagreements with their primary caretaker while Hispanic youths reported higher depression and familism scores. Given the differences found between Hispanic and Anglo youths, the findings argue that culturally sensitive interventions for runaway youths and families are warranted.     

Preventing Substance Use Among Hispanic Urban Youth: Valuing the Role of Family,Social Support Networks,School Importance,and Community Engagement

Abstract

Hispanic urban youth experience high levels of violence, access to drugs and alcohol, and limited access to quality educational institutions, as well as a disproportionate use of substances. However, youth exposed to multiple sources of support, such as values related to family centrality (e.g., family cohesion or familismo) and positive social networks, are less likely to use substances, and more likely to value school and participate in community activities. The present study examines substance use and empowering-protective resources among a cohort of Hispanic students (N = 538) from a northeastern United States urban community. We also assessed the moderating influence of gender using structural equation modeling (SEM) multigroup path analysis techniques. Results indicate that access to more sociocultural resources, such as cohesive families (familismo) and social supports, increases Hispanic adolescents’ community participation and school importance. Outcomes also demonstrate the positive, yet diverging, effects of gender. Implications for community prevention and policy are discussed.     

Paternal, perceived maternal, and youth risk factors as predictors of youth stage of substance use a longitudinal study

This longitudinal study examined paternal, perceived maternal, and youth risk factors at Time 1 (T1) (e.g., substance use, violent victimization, parental rules) as predictors of the stage of substance use in the adolescent child at Time 2 (T2). Participants (N = 296) consisted of drug-abusing fathers and one of their adolescent children, aged 12 to 20 years. Fathers and youths were each administered structured interviews separately and in private. Adolescents were re-interviewed approximately one year later. Pearson correlation analyses showed that the paternal, perceived maternal, and youth risk factors were significantly related to adolescent stage of substance use at T2. With an increase in risk factors, there was an increase in T2 stage of substance use in the child. Findings imply that father-oriented treatment programs should focus on how paternal behaviors, such as illegal drug use, inadequate parenting skills, and a poor father-child relationship contribute to youth problem behaviors, including alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drug use.     

Family Functioning,Substance Use and Related Problem Behaviors

Abstract

Runaway youths represent a neglected clinical group, and few studies have examined ethnicity differences within this population. Substance use, family functioning and related problem behaviors were examined in a sample of Hispanic and Anglo runaway youths with substance abuse diagnoses (N = 145). Youths, aged 12-17, were recruited from two urban, southwestern runaway shelters. Within single-parent families, Anglo youths reported more marijuana use, and, regardless of family constitution, reported more tobacco use than did Hispanic youths. Overall, Anglo youths reported more externalizing problems and more conflict tactics used in resolving disagreements with their primary caretaker while Hispanic youths reported higher depression and familism scores. Given the differences found between Hispanic and Anglo youths, the findings argue that culturally sensitive interventions for runaway youths and families are warranted.     

Trends in Alcohol,Drug and Cigarette Use Among Haitian Youth in Miami-Dade County,Florida

Abstract

The objective of this article is to report on prevalence of drug and cigarette use among a segment of Haitian youth in the United States. The article is an argument in favor of contextualizing knowledge about drug use among young people across socioethnic lines. Because initiation of licit and illicit drugs tends to occur during adolescence, ethnic differentiation is crucial if we are to understand the drug experience among young people in the United States. Immigration, acculturation, and identity processes are critical in refuting the conventional racial categorization commonly used for interpretation of risks and behaviors among youth in the United States. The task of bringing empirical evidence to bear on drug use and drug choices by young people from different contexts will lead to the re-examination of patterns of drug use as well as to creative ways of conceptualizing these patterns.     

Cultural traditions as "protective factors" among Latino children of illicit drug users

Family bonding was examined among Hispanic adolescents whose fathers are illicit drug users to ascertain whether such adolescents maintain close affective family ties or alienate themselves from their families given their father's use of illicit drugs and referral to a drug screening and treatment program. It was hypothesized that high levels of paternal drug use would be associated with the youth's alienation from the family. In addition, it was postulated that the adolescent's endorsement of traditional cultural values and social responsibility would protect her or him against this effect in relation to family bonding. These hypotheses are based on prior research that suggests that youth bonding to prosocial institutions, such as family, school, church, and community organizations, can be "protective" against drug use. More specifically, our analyses examined the role of level of acculturation in middle school, family traditionalism, American orientation, Latino orientation, and social responsibility in predicting adolescents' family bonding. Results indicated that the father's level of marijuana and/or methamphetamine use was unrelated to youth family bonding. Additionally, Latino and American cultural orientations and level of acculturation in middle school were not associated with family bonding. By contrast, social responsibility (the youth's citizenship and responsibility to the community) and family traditionalism (endorsing conservative cultural values regarding the maintenance of family traditions and respect for elders and family) were significantly associated with family bonding. In other words, among children of Latino illicit drug users, the youth's conservative family values and a responsible attitude toward community traditions were dual factors related to family bonding, perhaps operating also as sources of "protection" against youth problem behaviors.     

Emotional intelligence and acculturation to the United States: interactions on the perceived social consequences of smoking in early adolescents

High emotional intelligence (EI) is associated with decreased adolescent smoking. Acculturation to the United States is a risk factor for adolescent smoking. High EI may buffer the relationship between acculturation to the United States and perceptions of the social consequences of smoking (PSC).Emotional intelligence is the ability to: accurately perceive, appraise, and express emotion; access and/or generate feelings in facilitating thought; understand emotion and emotional knowledge; and regulate emotions. Emotional intelligence (measured by the Multifactor Emotional Intelligence Scale, Adolescent Version), acculturation, and PSC were assessed in 2001 from 416 Southern California sixth graders (47% boys; mean age = 11.3 yrs; 32% Hispanic/ Latino, 29% Asian/Pacific Islander, 13% White, 19% Multiethnic, 6% Other).There was a significant EI x US acculturation interaction (p < 0.01) suggesting that those with high EI perceived more social consequences associated with smoking. As the U.S. population becomes increasingly diversified, identifying protective variables and designing effective prevention programs for adolescents of diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds becomes important.