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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Michael Burgoon, PhD1, Joseph Grandpre, PhD2, Eusebio Alvaro, PhD1, William D. Crano, PhD3, and Jason T Siegel, MA1. (1) Health Communication Research Office, University of Arizona, 1522 E. Drachman St., Tucson, AZ 85721-0475, (2) Health Communication Research Office, Arizona Cancer Center, 1522 E Drachman Street, Tucson, AZ 85721-0475, 520-626-2363, mburgoon@u.arizona.edu, (3) Psychology Department, Claremont Graduate University, 123 E. Eighth St., Claremont, CA 91711
According to a study of 45,000 students in 433 different schools in the United States by The National Institute of Drug Abuse, marijuana is still the most widely used illicit drug. On average, in 1998, more than 4,000 adolescents used marijuana for the first time—daily! While inhalant use is not as prevalent as the use of marijuana, almost one million Americans used inhalants for the first time in 1998. Additionally, 12-year-old children use inhalants more than any other illegal substance. Data concerning adolescent use of marijuana and inhalants was collected from a total of 1,317 students attending 12 different schools/districts in southern Arizona. Results indicate that past marijuana use and intent to use or try marijuana in the future is highest amongst high schools students, particular male students. Furthermore, Hispanic students are more likely to have used and indicated more intent to use and try marijuana in the future than their Anglo counterparts. Likewise, older male students reported the highest incidence of past inhalant use and indicated more intent to use or try inhalants in the future than females or younger students. Lastly, while the reported incidence of inhalant use was relatively low, the perception that friends had tried inhalants recently was remarkably high (i.e. >60% for 10th graders). The results of this study suggest that marijuana and inhalant use among youths in southern Arizona, especially males and Hispanics, is a significant problem. Health practitioners need to focus prevention efforts on the populations most at risk, namely Hispanics.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Adolescents, Drug Use
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.