The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #47066

Jocelyn A. Andrel, MSPH¹, Larry S. Webber, PhD², Leann Myers, PhD², Carolyn C. Johnson, PhD¹, Neil W. Boris, MD¹, Tori Harris, MPH¹, and Katherine Madden, MPH¹. (1) Community Health Sciences, Tulane University School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine, 1440 Canal St., 23rd Floor, New Orleans, LA 70112, (504) 988-1158, jandrel@tulane.edu, (2) Biostatistics, Tulane University School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine, 1440 Canal Street, 20th Floor, New Orleans, LA 70112

The first tobacco and alcohol use data of the 21st century for high school students in Louisiana are reported here. ACTT is a high school-based smoking prevention in Acadiana parishes. Ninth graders (n=4807) participated in ACTT baseline measurement. The sample was 51.1% female and 61% Caucasian, 32.8% African American, and less than 2% each for Hispanic, Asian, Native American and Other. Ages ranged from 11.8 years to 19.3 years, mean=15.4 years (± 0.8). Overall lifetime cigarette smoking prevalence was 57.9%. No gender differences were observed. Significant ethnic differences were noted for African American (45.9%), Hispanic (70.8%), Caucasian (63.8%), Asian (43.3%), Native American (63.9), and Other (69.2%), p<0.0001. Thirty-day cigarette prevalence was 25.2%, with significant ethnic differences, African American 12.3%, Hispanic 34.2%, Caucasian 31.7%, Asian 13.4%, Native American 40.3%, and Other 27.5% (p<0.0001). Differences also emerged between African American males and females (15.5% vs 9.2%, p=0.0001). Lifetime use of bidis and pipes was 5.2% and 6%, respectively, cigars 18.8%, and chewing tobacco 16.4%. Chewing tobacco was significantly higher among Hispanic and Caucasian males (40% and 39.9%, respectively) than other subgroups. For all tobacco produces, except cigarettes, male use is significantly higher than female. Overall lifetime prevalence for alcohol use was 79.2% and 30-day prevalence was 48.5%, with the preferred beverage being hard liquor (26.6%). Binge drinking was reported by 24.2% overall. Additional subgroup differences in prevalence will be reported. Of note is that prevalence rates for tobacco and alcohol are higher than national rates reported by Monitoring the Future.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe smoking behaviors in southern Louisiana ninth grade students.
• Identify characteristics associated with smoking and alcohol behaviors.
• Discuss epidemiology of smoking in this particular population.

Keywords: Adolescents, Smoking

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.