Risk Factors for Different Dimensions of Adolescent Drug Use

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this investigation is to analyse which risk factors in the family, school and peer domains have an effect on the use of different types of drugs (alcohol, tobacco and narcotics) and on frequencies of drug use. Another question to be addressed is whether the number of risk factors present also has an effect on the different dimensions of drug use. A total of 467 students aged 14–15 (234 boys and 233 girls) were included in the study and a series of multivariate logistic regressions were estimated. The results show that the effects of family disruption, conflict in the family, parental monitoring, academic performance, time spent with friends and peer deviance differ significantly across the various dimensions of drug use studied. Parental monitoring, time spent with friends and peer deviance showed themselves to be the most important risk factors across these various dimensions. The number of risk factors present was also found to have an effect on drug use.     

Abstention from Drug Use and Delinquency Increasing among Youth in the United States, 2002–2014

Background: Trends in abstaining from substance use and delinquency among adolescent's ages 12–17 in the United States was examined. Methods: Data was derived from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) involving non-Hispanic white, African American, and Hispanic respondents (n = 98,620) and spanning the years 2002–2014. Logistic regression was used to examine significance of trend year and correlates of low-risk and high-risk behavioral groups relative to abstaining. Results: Overall, the prevalence of abstaining was 47.56% between 2002 and 2014. Prevalence increased significantly among all adolescents from 44.85% in 2002 to 53.58% in 2014. Relative to abstainers nonabstaining youth were more likely to be male, and report lower household income, poorer grades, depression, and lower levels of parental affirmation and control. Conclusions: Findings indicate that there is a corresponding increase in abstaining mirroring the recent decreases found in adolescent drug use found in national surveys.     

Variation in Family Structure Among Urban Adolescents and Its Effects on Drug Use

Family structure is one factor that can help explain drug use among adolescents. In 2005 a study was conducted with 255 ninth-grade students from an urban, predominantly Latino Los Angeles area high school. Students were 83% Latino, 58% female, and from mostly low SES households. Half of all students reported having ever used alcohol, 30% had ever smoked a cigarette, and 18% had ever used marijuana. Family structure was measured using a single open-ended question and logistic regression was employed to determine the effects of various family structures on the use of alcohol, cigarettes, and marijuana. The presence of older siblings in the home was associated with alcohol and marijuana use, and living with a cousin was associated with marijuana use. Results suggest that influential others, including siblings and cousins, should be included in measures of family structure. Study limitations are noted.     

Non Drug Use- and Drug Use-Specific Spirituality as One-Year Predictors of Drug Use Among High-Risk Youth

The present article explored two different dimensions of spirituality that might tap negative and positive relations with adolescent drug use over a 1-year period. Non-drug-use–specific spirituality measured how spiritual the person believes he or she is, participation in spiritual groups, and engagement in spiritual practices such as prayer, whereas drug-use–specific spirituality measured using drugs as a spiritual practice. Self-report questionnaire data were collected during 1997–1999 from a sample of 501 adolescents in 18 continuation high schools across southern California. Participants ranged in age from 14 to 19 and were 57% male, with an ethnic distribution of 34% White, 49% Latino, 5% African American, 7% Asian, and 5% other. A series of general linear model analyses were conducted to identify whether or not two different spirituality variables predict drug use (cigarettes, alcohol, marijuana, hallucinogens, and stimulants) at 1-year follow-up. After controlling for baseline drug use, non-drug-use–specific spirituality was negatively predictive of alcohol, marijuana, and stimulant use, whereas drug-use–specific spirituality failed to be found predictive of these variables one year later. Conversely, drug-use–specific spirituality was positively predictive of cigarette smoking and hallucinogen use, whereas non-drug-use spirituality failed to be found predictive of these variables. Our results provide new evidence that suggests that spirituality may have an effect on drug use among adolescents. The drug-use-specific measure of spirituality showed “risk effects” on drug use, whereas the other measure resulted in “protective effects,” as found in previous research. Knowledge of the risk and protective patterns and mechanisms of spirituality may be translated into future drug use prevention intervention programs.     

A Comparison of Drug Use and Risk Behavior Profiles Among Younger and Older Street Youth

Among 559 street youth recruited between 2005 and 2007 in Vancouver, Canada, young drug users (<21 years of age) were compared with older drug users (≥21 years) with regard to recent drug use and sexual practices using multiple logistic regression. Older youth were more likely to be male and of Aboriginal ancestry, to have more significant depressive symptoms, to have recently engaged in crack smoking, and to have had a recent history of injection drug use. Young drug users, by contrast, were more likely to have engaged in recent binge alcohol use. Efforts to reduce drug use-related harm among street youth may be improved by considering the highly prevalent use of “harder” drugs and risk for depression among older youth.     

Understanding the Relative Influence of Neighborhood,Family, and Youth on Adolescent Drug Use

In the United States, a variety of programs have been developed to prevent substance use among youth. These programs often target youth directly, and may also have components that address the relational influence of families, schools, and communities. We discuss clustering of youth marijuana use within and between households and neighborhoods. As often discussed in the literature, we consider analyzing “components of variance” in a hierarchical sample design with two or more levels. With a continuous outcome variable, the estimated relative size of variance components at each level can be interpreted as its relative “importance.” We estimate variance components when the outcome is dichotomous, and find that for the use of marijuana in the past year, the role of the individual (individual adolescent vs. role of household vs. role of neighborhood) is quite prominent (79% of variation). A similar result is observed for the continuous scale variable of individual positive attitudes toward drug use (83%). For continuous constructs related to either household (parental monitoring) or neighborhood (neighborhood disorganization) the majority of variation still occurs at the individual level (67% and 51%, respectively), although they reveal significant percent variation (about 30%) at the corresponding family or neighborhood levels as well. We discuss the use of variance component methodology and the relevance for prevention programs.     

Intercorrelation of Alcohol and Other Drug Use Disorders among a National Sample of Drivers

This study examined the relationship between alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, and painkiller use disorders in a sample of drivers. We studied nighttime drivers aged 16 to 87 (n = 4,277) from the 2007 National Roadside Survey who reported substance use behaviors and provided breath tests for alcohol. Logistic regression analyses assessed the relationships between (1) substance (i.e., alcohol/marijuana/cocaine/pain killer) use disorders; (2) demographic characteristics; and (3) BAC levels. Overall, 13.2% of participants met criteria for marijuana use disorder, 7% met criteria for cocaine use disorder, and 15.4% met criteria for extra-medicinal painkiller use disorder. When self-report data were analyzed, three reciprocal associations emerged: (1) marijuana use disorders and alcohol use disorders were correlated; (2) marijuana use disorders and cocaine use disorders were correlated; and (3) cocaine use disorders and painkiller use disorders were correlated. BAC data revealed that marijuana and cocaine use disorders were both associated with positive BAC levels, but only cocaine use disorders were associated with BAC levels over the legal limit. Results suggest significant poly-substance use disorders in a sample of nighttime drivers, with variations by demographic characteristics. The individual and public health consequences of multiple substance use disorders among drivers are significant.     

Sense of Coherence and Tobacco Use Myths Among Adolescents as Predictors of At-Risk Youth Cigarette Use

We examined the association between a general construct of wellness beliefs, sense of coherence, and a specific measure of tobacco-related beliefs, tobacco use myths, as predictors of two smoking-related outcome measures—next year smoking expectation and last 30-day smoking. Self-report questionnaires were administered to 710 adolescents attending California continuation high schools at baseline and at 1-year follow-up between 2006 and 2008. Cross-sectionally, predictor and outcome measures were correlated. However, in longitudinal analyses, only tobacco use myths predicted change in outcome measures. We speculate that future smoking interventions among adolescents would achieve relatively efficacious outcomes by targeting specific health beliefs instead of global health beliefs. The study's limitations are noted.     

我国农村合理用药现状分析与建议

目的:促进农村合理用药。方法:查阅近年有关农村合理用药的研究文献,结合实际分析当前我国农村合理用药中存在的问题。结果与结论:尽管我国农村已开展多项合理用药研究,并取得了一定成果,但合理用药现状极不乐观。必须进一步探索和总结合理用药策略与方法,完善合理用药理论,指导合理用药实践。     

The Role of Selected Risk Factors in Predicting Adolescent Drug Use and Its Adverse Consequences

The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of selected risk factors in predicting alcohol and other drug (AOD) use and adverse consequences of use. Three regression analyses were performed on four categories of risk factors: individual, family related, school related, and social related. The sample size was 887 (99%). Significant predictors for AOD use were grade level, participation in religious services, GPA, frequency of dating and driving, trouble at school, mastery, and family management index. Predictors for adverse consequences were GPA, frequency of dating, trouble at school, family management index, risk taking, alienation, susceptibility to peer pressure, and living arrangements.     

Prevalence of Substance Use among Lesbian,Gay, Bisexual,and Transgender Youth in Military Families: Findings from the California Healthy Kids Survey

Background: In addition to the challenges associated with military life, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth in military families may face stressors associated with having a stigmatized sexual orientation and/or gender identity or expression, placing them at risk of substance use. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first study exploring substance use outcomes among LGBT youth in military families. Objectives: This study assessed the role of military connection, LGB identity, and transgender identity on lifetime and past 30-day substance use. Methods: This study is a secondary data analysis of the 2013–2015 California Healthy Kids Survey (CHKS). The study's participants (n = 634,978) were students attending middle and high schools in nearly all school districts in California. The study outcomes were lifetime and past 30-day cigarette, alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana use. Chi-square tests of associations (including cross-tabulations) and multivariate logistic regressions were conducted to address the study aims. Results: Multivariate logistic regression results indicated that military connection, LGB identity, and transgender identity were significantly associated with an increased odd of lifetime and past 30-day substance use. Compared to military non-transgender youth, military transgender youth had an increased likelihood of past 30-day cigarette use and past 30-day alcohol use. In addition, military LGB youth were 3.62 times as likely as military non-LGB youth to report past 30-day cigarette use. Conclusions/Importance: This study provides researchers with knowledge about the behavioral health of LGBT youth in military families, a vulnerable subgroup within the military-connected youth population, thus informing substance use prevention programs.     

抗菌药物不良反应73例分析

目的:分析抗菌药物不良反应及其发生因素.方法:回顾性分析2018年4月至2020年9月南城县人民医院发生不良反应的110例临床资料,其中由抗菌药物引发的有73例,对其年龄、性别、发生不良反应的药物种类、累及系统及临床症状表现进行分析,并对抗菌药物不良反应产生的因素进行单因素和多因素分析.结果:使用青霉素类、头孢类、大环...     

对上海样本医院和药店的儿童用药结构的分析

对我国儿童用药和上海样本医院2014至2016年儿童处方用药情况进行分析,试图从用药结构、种类分布、儿童用药类型占比等方面展开分析与讨论,目的是推导了解我国儿童用药的总体结构和儿童处方用药情况,并分析其中存在的问题,为儿童合理用药提供建议。通过分析,明确指出目前儿童用药临床研究缺乏,导致药品说明书中儿童用药信息标注不足、儿童适宜用药品种少等问题。     

Incidence and Predictors of Onset of Injection Drug Use in a San Francisco Cohort of Homeless Youth

Few studies document incidence of injection drug use among homeless youth. We followed a cohort of 70 street-recruited homeless youth in San Francisco, California who had never injected drugs for six months in 2004-5. We examined initiation of injection drug use and its predictors, informed by prior ethnographic findings. Data were analyzed using exact logistic regression. 11.4% of youth initiated injection drug use. Having no high school education, being over 21 years old, and being in disequilibrium predicted initiation. Limitations, implications and suggestions for future research are noted. Funding was provided by the National Institute for Child Health and Development.     

The Relationships Between Alcohol/Drug Use and Quality of Life Among Adolescents: An International,Cross-Sectional Study

Although a major public health and social concern globally, limited data exist on substance use and their effects among adolescents living in low- and middle-income countries. This study evaluated the relationships between alcohol/drug use and quality of life (QOL) among adolescents in general populations from India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Serbia, Turkey, Bulgaria, and Croatia. The sample included 2,393 adolescents. The Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) was used for QOL assessments, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) was used for mental health problems, and the CRAFFT self-report questionnaire was administered for eliciting alcohol/drug use. Alcohol/drug use was significantly associated with lower levels of QOL. In particular, substance use among older male adolescents, adolescents with overt psychopathology, or adolescents in lower socioeconomic status was associated with greater reductions in levels of QOL.     

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.     

社区慢性病患者用药安全性的调查研究

目的:了解社区慢性病患者对用药安全性相关因素的认知程度,为开展药学服务提供参考。方法:采用问卷调查方式,对300名社区慢性病患者进行用药情况调查,通过计算可靠性分析中的Cronbach’s alpha系数,运用描述性统计分析、探索性因子分析、t检验和单因子变异数分析等方法对数据进行处理,分析其用药安全性现状。结果:回收有效问卷297份,社区慢性病患者对用药安全理解度得分均值较高2.20,其中男性显著高于女性,30～40岁患者、大专及以上学历患者、职工医疗保险患者理解度得分均值明显较大;探索性因子分析结果显示社区慢性病患者对于药品的基本知识了解不多,对自我药疗有一定的了解,对于药学人员的服务方面比较认可。结论:性别、年龄、文化程度、医疗保险形式是影响社区慢性病患者安全使用药品重要因素,应大力开展药学服务,普及药品应用的基本知识,以促进合理用药。     

The Relationship Between the Accumulated Number of Role Transitions and Hard Drug Use among Hispanic Emerging Adults

Abstract

Emerging adults (ages 18 to 25) who experience multiple role transitions in a short period of time may engage in hard drug use as a maladaptive coping strategy to avoid negative emotions from stress. Given the collectivistic values Hispanics encounter growing up, they may experience additional role transitions due to their group-oriented cultural paradigm. This study examined whether those who experience many role transitions are at greater risk for hard drug use compared to those who experience few transitions among Hispanic emerging adults. Participants completed surveys indicating their hard drug use in emerging adulthood, role transitions in the past year of emerging adulthood, age, gender, and hard drug use in high school. Simulation analyses indicated that an increase in the number of role transitions, from 0 to 13, was associated with a 14% (95% CI, 4 to 29) higher probability of hard drug use. Specific role transitions were found to be associated with hard drug use, such as starting to date or experiencing a breakup. Intervention/prevention programs may benefit from acknowledging individual reactions to transitions in emerging adulthood, as these processes may be catalysts for personal growth where identities are consolidated and decisions regarding hard drug use are formed.