Inhalant Use and Risky Behavior Correlates in a Sample of Rural Middle School Students

Abstract

This study found 20.4% of children attending a middle school located in rural Mississippi had used inhalants to “get high,” a figure that is much larger than the national average. Many (3.4%) students reported they had used inhalants on 10 or more occasions. Inhalant use was most associated with being younger, ever smoking, riding with a driver who had been drinking, and being involved in a fight. Nearly twice as many younger students reported usage in our sample compared to other studies. Longitudinal studies need to be conducted to investigate whether use of inhalants is a precursor to other risky behaviors, and subsequent progression to alcohol abuse or illicit drug use.     

Associations Between School Perceptions and Tobacco Use in a Sample of Southern Middle School Students

Cigarettes are responsible for nearly 443,000 deaths per year in the United States. Eighty percent of adult smokers began smoking before the age of 18. In 2009, 17.2% of high school and 5.2% of middle school youths reported being a smoker. Research on school perceptions suggests that “engaged” students get more from school on all levels, including reduced health risk behaviors. The purpose of this study was to identify which school perceptions are protective against tobacco use in a sample of middle school youths. Results conclude that high levels of educational attachment are significantly associated with low levels of tobacco use.     

Religiosity as a Protective Factor Against Substance Use Among Hungarian High School Students

Gender differences in the relationship between religiosity and substance use (lifetime prevalence and current use) were examined among high school students in Szeged, Hungary (N = 881). Experimenting with and consuming tobacco and alcoholic beverages were characteristic in the sample to a great extent, whereas marijuana use was not as frequent. Logistic regression analyses were employed to test how variables of religiosity, that is, denominational affiliation, religiosity, and religious attendance, were related to substance use of youth by gender. Our findings confirmed the importance of the protective role of religious involvement, particularly among females.     

Anabolic Steroid Use in High School Students

A total of 1351 high school students (52.3% males, 47.7% females) with mean age 17.5 years (SD = 2.2) from randomized school classes in Hordaland County, Norway, participated in an Internet survey conducted in 2004 about the lifetime use of anabolic steroids and personal acquaintance with at least one user of anabolic steroids. In addition to questions about anabolic steroids the participants completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test. They also answered questions about demography, smoking, and narcotic use. The lifetime prevalence for use of anabolic steroids was 3.6% for males and 0.6% for females. In all, 27.9% of the respondents reported having at least one acquaintance that used or had used anabolic steroids. Use of anabolic steroids and having acquaintances using such drugs were strongly related to use of other drugs such as alcohol, nicotine, and narcotics. Implications for prevention are discussed and the study's limitations are noted.     

The Indirect Effect of Ethnic Identity on Marijuana Use Through School Engagement: An African American High School Sample

Background: African American marijuana use is associated with many negative social, emotional, and health-related consequences. Of significance, over recent years this population has shown an increase in use. In the literature, ethnic identity and school engagement are prominent protective factors against substance use. Objective: This study will examine how these protective factors are related, specifically whether ethnic identity mitigates risk through school engagement to reduce marijuana use. Method: A path analysis was conducted with 437 African American high school students (41% male) from Midwestern schools to examine the role of school engagement in the relationship between ethnic identity and marijuana use. Results: The results revealed that students high in ethnic identity have higher school engagement, which lessens their frequency of marijuana use. Therefore, ethnic identity reduces marijuana use by increasing student's school engagement. Conclusions/Importance: The results offer a clearer picture of how ethnic identity and school engagement protect against marijuana use. The results also present insight into how to protect students who are low in ethnic identity.     

Clinical Characteristics of Synthetic Cannabinoid Use in a Large Urban Psychiatric Emergency Setting

Background: Increasing reports of synthetic cannabinoid (SC)-related adverse events have largely comprised case reports and analyses of calls to poison control centers. Existing studies have also mostly involved white male populations. Objectives: The purpose of this study is to systematically describe clinical characteristics of SC use in a relatively large, diverse, urban sample presenting to a psychiatric emergency setting. Methods: SC users (n = 110) were identified by reviewing charts (n = 948) from the psychiatric emergency service of a large, urban public hospital in the United States for November 2014, which was randomly selected from the 12 months of that year. Sociodemographic data were collected from administrative databases and clinical data were collected from the electronic medical record. Results: SC users were mostly non-white (90.0%) males (95.5%), who were likely to be police-involved (34.5%) and homeless (84.5%). SC users also had significant and often pre-existing psychiatric and substance use comorbidity, including acute psychotic symptoms (70.0%), more than one comorbid psychiatric diagnosis (31.8%) and primary psychotic disorder diagnosis (40.0%), past psychiatric visits to the hospital (70.9%), comorbid substance use (62.7%), agitation requiring intervention (22.7%), and the need for extended psychiatric observation (15.5%) and inpatient admission (34.5%). Relatively limited medical complications were identified. Conclusions/Importance: In this sample, SC use affected a sociodemographically disadvantaged and mentally ill population, likely exacerbating existing psychiatric problems. This is one of the only studies to systematically examine the clinical effects of SC use in a significant clinical sample, and the first study in an urban, racial/ethnic minority, and vulnerable sample.     

Race and Ethnic Differences in Attempts to Cut Down or Quit Substance Use in a High School Sample

Abstract

Much attention has been given to the initiation and progression of substance involvement of youth. Less is known about decrements in substance use and cessation efforts among adolescents from diverse race/ethnic backgrounds. The present study examined substance use and attempts to reduce or quit substance use among adolescents from three race/ethnic groups. Participants were 3,756 Asian-American, Latino, and White high-school students surveyed regarding use of cigarettes, alcohol, illicit drugs, alcohol-related consequences, and substance use cessation efforts. Results indicated that Latino and White students had similar lifetime prevalence rates of alcohol, cigarette, and illicit drug use relative to Asian Americans. Although Latino youths reported lower or comparable rates of alcohol use compared to Whites, they experienced more legal consequences related to their use. A higher proportion of Latinos indicated attempts to reduce or stop alcohol use in comparison to Asian Americans and Whites, and to reduce/stop drug use in comparison to Whites. Adolescents experiencing negative alcohol-related consequences were more apt to attempt to change their substance use than students reporting no consequences. However, few race/ethnic differences were identified in regard to preferred strategies to restrict or cease substance involvement. Implications for adolescent substance use interventions are discussed.     

Gender Differences in the Correlates of Adolescents' Cannabis Use

Adolescents' gender-specific cannabis use rates and their correlates were examined. Data were obtained via a cross-sectional survey conducted in 2004 in British Columbia, Canada, funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. School districts were invited to participate, and schools within consenting districts were recruited. In total, 8,225 students (50% male) from Grades 7 to 12 participated. About 73% were “White,” and 47% had used cannabis in their lifetime. Cannabis users were grouped according to their frequency of use: “never users,” “frequent users,” or “heavy users.” Male heavy cannabis users (14.3% of boys) were more likely to be in Grade 9 or higher; be Aboriginal; report poorer economic status; never feel like an outsider; frequently use alcohol and tobacco; and have lower satisfaction with family, friends, and school compared with boys that never used. Female heavy users (8.7% of girls) were more likely to be in a higher grade; report poorer economic status, mental health, and academic performance; frequently use alcohol and tobacco; and have lower satisfaction with their school compared with female never users. Three important gender differences in the multivariate analysis of the correlates of cannabis use were noted: school grade (for boys only), Aboriginal status (for boys only), and mental health (for girls only). Despite the limitations of relying on self-reports, a subset of youth appears to be at risk for excessive cannabis use that may impair life opportunities and health. The gender differences may be important in the design and implementation of prevention or treatment programs for adolescents.     

社区慢性阻塞性肺疾病高危人群的患病状况及危险因素分析

目的 研究社区慢性阻塞性肺疾病（COPD）高危人群的患病状况及其危险因素,为COPD的社区防控提供依据.方法 从居民的健康档案中随机抽取社区40岁以上COPD高危人群进行问卷调查和肺功能检测,了解COPD的患病情况,采用单因素和多因素Logistic回归对COPD的危险因素进行分析.结果 共调查1 018人,男489人,女529人,COPD患病率为11.69%;男性COPD的患病率为15.95%,显著高于女性7.75% （χ2=16.55,P〈0.05）;随着年龄的增长,COPD患病率不断升高 （χ2=41.19,P〈0.05）.COPD组与非COPD组患者在性别、年龄、体重指数（BMI）、吸烟指数（SI）、共患疾病（呼吸系统、心血管系统、其他系统）,家族史及厨房通风状况7个因素差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）;多因素非条件Logistic回归分析显示,年龄、SI、呼吸系统共患疾病、厨房通风状况是COPD的独立危险因素,而BMI是COPD的保护因素（P〈0.05）.结论 COPD高危人群中患病率较高,对社区高危人群普及肺功能检测有助于提高COPD诊断率,同时积极戒烟,倡导良好的生活方式也是社区居民COPD干预的重点.     

重点、普通高三学生情绪及相关因素分析比较

目的:探讨重点中学和普通中学高三学生情绪及相关因素状况的差异。方法:采用自编社会人口学资料表、症状自评量表(Scl-90)、父母养育方式评价量表(EMBU)、ZUNG氏抑郁自评量表(SDS)、ZUNG氏焦虑自评量表(SAS)对武汉某重点中学高三学生130名、普通中学高三学生121名进行测查。结果:①重点中学学生父母文化水平及家庭收入较普通中学低;②重点中学学生SDS得分高于普通中学,两类学生Scl-90各因子得分差异无显著性;③重点中学学生父母亲情感温暖、理解程度因子得分低于普通中学学生;④学生SDS得分与EMBU的f1f、3f、5、m1、m3有相关性。结论:重点中学学生存在较多抑郁情绪,可能与父母亲情感温暖、理解不够有关。     

Substance Use and Parent Characteristics Among High School Students: Edirne Sample in Turkey

ABSTRACT

The current study on substance use and family characteristics of adolescents is a part of the extensive research on substance use characteristics among high school students in Edirne, Turkey. This cross-sectional study was conducted with 8,483 high school students within the 2010–2011 academic year. Self-administered questionnaires were completed anonymously by the participants. The lifetime prevalence of alcohol use was 24.6% and tobacco use was 21.4%. The most commonly used illicit substance was cannabis (1%), followed by inhalants (0.5%) and ecstasy (0.4%). The use of alcohol, tobacco, and nearly all the illegal substances was significantly higher among males compared to females. The rates of lifetime substance use varied by family-related factors such as family structure, perceived parental attitudes and intrafamilial relationships, parental socioeconomic status, and parental substance use. The limitations and implications of these findings are discussed.     

Religiosity as a Protective Factor Against the Use of Drugs

Although many studies have suggested that risk and protective factors are related to the use of drugs, their role has not been given due importance. More attention to protective factors could make them a fundamental tool in prevention programs. Since low socioeconomic level and adolescence are known as risk factors, the aim of this study was to identify which factors would prevent Brazilian adolescents from low-income families from using drugs. A qualitative method and an intentional sample selected by criteria were adopted for this investigation. During 2003, sixty-two youngsters, ages 16 to 24 years old, 30 drug users, and 32 nonusers were administered a semistructured interview. The subjects perceived family and religiosity as important protective factors in their lives. With regard to religiosity, 81% of nonusers believed in and practiced a religion, whereas only 13% of users considered themselves as being religious. The belief in and practice of a religion were also more evident among family members of nonusers (74%) than those of users (33%). These results indicated that religion may be a relevant protective factor for the sample studied, helping the family unit in keeping youth away from drugs. The study's limitations were noted.     

Prevalence of At-Risk Drinking Among a National Sample of Medical Students

ABSTRACT

As limited research exists on medical students' substance use patterns, including over-consumption of alcohol, the objective of this study was to determine prevalence and correlates of at-risk drinking among a national sample of medical students, using a cross-sectional, anonymous, Web-based survey. A total of 2710 medical students from 36 U.S. medical schools (1st to 4th year) completed the survey. Included in the instruments was a 10-item scale (AUDIT) to assess at-risk drinking behaviors within the last 12 months. Over 15% of the subjects (n = 412) scored positive for at-risk drinking (≥ 8). Multivariate analysis of the data revealed the following independent predictors were statistically significant (P ≤ 0.05) for at-risk drinking: being of younger age, male, unmarried, using illicit drugs, smoking tobacco products within the last 30 days, having low perception of risk, showing impulsive behavior, being depressed, and having gambling problems. Findings from this study provides initial data for investigating further associations between risky drinking behavior, lifestyle, and psychosocial factors, as well as effectiveness of curriculum or campus-wide policy interventions to reduce over-consumption of drinking among this population.     

The Parental Influence of Betel-Chewing Behavior Among Junior High School Students in Taiwan

A cross-sectional study with stratification sampling was conducted to explore the parental influence of betel-chewing behavior among junior high school students in Taichung County in 1998. The sample consisted of 2244 students in three different districts in Taichung County: the mountain line area, the seashore area; and the satellite cities area (near Taichung City). A self-reported questionnaire was filled out anonymously by the sampled students. Fifty percent of the students' fathers and 2.5% of the students' mothers are betel chewers. A higher prevalence of betel chewing is found among students whose parents are betel chewers. Also the lower the father's educational level, the higher the prevalence of betel chewing among the students. Compared with students whose fathers have more than 12 years of education, the odds ratio is 2.35 for the prevalence of betel chewing among students with fathers whose educational levels are no more than 9 years. However, parents' vocations are not related to the prevalence of betel chewing among junior high school students. Finally, students whose parents are separated or divorced have a higher prevalence of betel chewing. An effective health education program for the high-risk group students and an evaluation procedure for the effectiveness of the program is necessary to prevent the increase of betel chewing among Taiwan's youth.     

Prevalence and Sociodemographic Correlates of Lifetime Substance Use Among a Rural and Diverse Sample of Adolescents

ABSTRACT

Background: Data are limited regarding the prevalence of substance use among adolescents in rural and ethnically diverse communities. This study examined rates and sociodemographic correlates of lifetime substance use among adolescents in Mississippi, a rural state that is the poorest in the country (21.3% poverty rate) and has the largest proportion of African Americans per capita (36.3%). Methods: Participants in this cross-sectional study were 6349 adolescents (6th through 12th grade) who reported on lifetime tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, inhalant, hallucinogen, and methamphetamine use. Results: Lifetime smoking (10.2% to 44.5%), alcohol (23.2% to 72.0%), and marijuana use (7.9% to 39.2%) increased steadily when comparing students in 6th to 12th grade. Substances with more serious abuse potential (cocaine [6.7% to 11.1%], inhalants [12.2% to 17.9%], hallucinogens [4.4% to 12.1%], and methamphetamine [3.0% to 6.7%]) displayed more modest increases across grade. Adolescents who classified their race/ethnicity as “Other” (i.e., not white, black/African American, Asian, or Hispanic/Latino/Latina) demonstrated more than 2-fold increased likelihood of methamphetamine use (odds ratio [OR] = 2.42), and increased risk for use of any illicit substance (OR = 1.49). In general, males demonstrated an increased risk for use across substances (OR = 1.15–1.94), and higher income was associated with a decreased likelihood of illicit substance use (OR = 0.51–0.67). Living in a more populated area was associated with an increased likelihood of alcohol (OR = 1.43), marijuana (OR = 2.11), and cocaine use (OR = 2.06), and use of any illicit substance (OR = 1.54). Conclusions: Mississippi adolescents reported higher rates of lifetime cocaine, inhalant, hallucinogen, and methamphetamine use across all grade levels compared with national surveys. Male gender, low income, and residence in more populated areas were associated with increased use of several substances. Findings demonstrate the need for prevention and intervention programs targeting impoverished rural and ethnically diverse communities.