Based on the pioneering literature reviews by Hawkins, et al., that identified a list of different risk and protective factors that had been found to be associated with adolescent substance use, calls have gone out for systematic testing of the relative significance of these risk factors in new comprehensive data collection efforts. This report will present the results of a study of 1,200 high school students in grades 9 through 12 who completed a comprehensive baseline assessment questionnaire as part of a DOJ-funded COPS intervention program. In addition to complete information on lifetime, annual, and current drug use, patterns of use (time, location, etc.), and consequences of use, the survey includes measures of individual risk factors (attitudes, perceived risks, depression, future optimism, alienation, impulsivity, & preferred coping responses), family risk & protective factors (degree of closeness, supervision after school, clarity of family norms, comfort in communication, & modeling), peers (normative disapproval, peer expectations, peer pressure, number of friends who use), school (school bonding, academic success/failure, commitment to academic success, clarity of school policies, participation in school activities), community (availability of drugs, sense of belonging, perceived availability & participation in community activities, community norms/tolerance of drug use), and religiosity, all based on extant scales with know validity and reliability. The implications for designing more effective intervention programs are discussed.
Learning Objectives: As a result of this presentation, participants will be able to: 1. articulate the relative significance of different risk and protective factors in the initiation of adolescent substance use; and, 2. discuss the implications of comprehensive baseline assessments of risk and resiliency factors for the development of more effective prevention programs
Keywords: Adolescent Health, Drug Use
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.