The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #36438

Anca Codruta Rafiroiu, MD, PhD, Department of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, Cleveland State University, 2451 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115, (216) 687-4873, A.RAFIROIU@CSUOHIO.EDU, Robert F. Valois, PhD, MPH, Norman J. Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Department of Health Promotion and Education, Health Sciences Building, Columbia, SC 29208, Deborah Parra-Medina, PhD, Department of Health Promotion and Education, Norman J. Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Health Sciences Building, Columbia, SC 29169, Wanzer J. Drane, PhD, School of Public Health, Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of South Carolina, Health Sciences Building, Columbia, SC 29208, and Roger G. Sargent, PhD, Department of Health Promotion and Education, University of South Carolina, School of Public Health, Columbia, SC 29208.

Tobacco, alcohol, and other drug use among adolescents is associated with the leading causes of morbidity and mortality, lower educational achievement, and with school dropout. Few studies have examined trends over time in these behaviors. The purpose of this study was to assess prevalence rates of cigarette smoking, alcohol, and other drug use among adolescents, and changes across age, gender and race categories over time. The 1991-1999 South Carolina Youth Risk Behavior Surveys were analyzed using weighted bivariate methods and linear regression. Every year white students were significantly more likely than blacks and boys significantly more likely than girls to engage in drug use (p< .001). The prevalence of lifetime smoking remained stable from 1991 to 1999 among students overall and among all sex, racial and grade subgroups, except Black females, for which a significant positive linear trend was identified (p< .001). Frequent and current cigarette use, prevalence of lifetime and current marijuana use exhibited significant positive linear trends from 1991 to 1999 overall and across all sex, racial and grade subgroups (p< .001). The prevalence of lifetime alcohol and steroid use and current alcohol use remained stable from 1991 to 1999 among all subgroups, except White males. Significant trends in the proportion of adolescents engaging in tobacco, marijuana and alcohol on school property were found over time. The study confirms that both legal and illegal substance use rates are highly prevalent among adolescents of all race/sex categories and should be continually monitored.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Identify major trends that occured over the past decade in smoking, alcohol and other drug consumption among public high-school adolescents.
• Discuss subgroup gender and race differences in drug consumption over the past decade among public high-school adolescents.

Keywords: Adolescent Health, Behavior Modification

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.