Differences in the types of substances used by various adolescent racial and ethnic groups are well documented in the literature. However, few studies have examined the effects of racial composition of the particular school district on past month use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. In 1997 as part of a statewide school-based student survey in Connecticut, 7622 (5439 Anglo, 1161 African-American, and 1023 Hispanic) 7th-10th graders completed a self-administered questionnaire of substance use and risk and protective factors for substance use. School districts were classified according to their racial composition (homogenous or heterogeneous). Two by two contingency tables and chi-square tests were used to assess the differences in past month substance use by school district racial composition. Differences in recent use between the school district race types were found among the various racial/ethnic groups. Caucasian students attending school in racially heterogeneous districts were more likely to have smoked cigarettes and less likely to use alcohol in the past month than Caucasian students in racially homogenous districts. African American students were more likely to smoke cigarettes in racially homogeneous districts and alcohol in heterogeneous districts. Hispanics in racially dissimilar districts were more likely to have used cigarettes, alcohol, inhalants and hallucinogens while more likely to use PCP in racially similar districts. Theories for differences in the patterns of use will be examined and implications for prevention programming in different racial district types will be discussed.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to: 1. Recognize the differences in recent substance use among different racial/ethnic students attending racially homogeneous and heterogeneous school districts. 2. Identify substances more likely to be abused by different racial/ethnic groups attending different types of racially diverse school districts.
Keywords: Substance Abuse, Minorities
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.