Objective: Cal State Long Beach University, Center for Behavioral Research & Services provides counseling and food bank services to persons who self-identify as Injection Drug Users and non-injection crack and Methamphetamine Users. The project serves residents in the City of Long Beach. The purpose of the analysis is to explore whether age is associated with participants’ substance abuse risk.
Methods: Data from 415 female participants were analyzed using t-tests to determine differences in drug use risk based on age.
Results: Two hundred sixty-one (63%) were non-IDU and 154 (37%) were IDU. There was no significant difference in age (t=0.40, df=411, p=.68) between IDU (M=38.77, SD=8.35) and non-IDU (M=39.1, SD=7.75). Differences in age were found for two types of drug use. Women who smoked heroin were significantly younger (M=31.25, SD=3.88) than those who did not (M=39.05, SD=7.95) t=1.95, df=411, p=0.05. Women who swallowed powered methamphetamine were younger (M=29.57, SD=6.67) than those who did not (M=39.14,SD=7.87) t=3.18, dr=411, p=0.0016.
Conclusions: Younger women appear to engage in some risky drug use behaviors. The ability to associate risk for drug use can be useful in targeting risk reduction messages with the intent of preventing the onset of riskier substance use practices.
Learning Objectives: Cal State University, Long Beach Center for Behavioral Research and Services Counseling and Food Bank Program Data
Keywords: Women, Drug Abuse
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.