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Terry Butler, DrPH, Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Loma Linda University, School of Public Health, Evans Hall, Room 203, Loma Linda, CA 92350, 909 558-4868, tbutler@sph.llu.edu and Judith McAnulty, MSc, New Zealand and Pacific Union of Seventh-day Adventists, Adventist Health, Great South Road, Manukau, New Zealand.
In 2001 a cross-sectional lifestyle and drug survey was conducted among twenty four Seventh-day Adventist (Adventist) High Schools in Australia and New Zealand. Of the students, aged 12-18 years, responding 1,298 were of the Adventist faith. Seventh-day Adventists have a proscription against tobacco, alcohol and other drugs and generally have a very low prevalence of drug use as compared to the general community. In Australia smoking rates declined from 1991 to 2001. Among all those aged 14-19 years 75.3% had never smoked and 20.3% were regular smokers. In 2001 65.7% of young people aged 14-19 years reported as never having used marijuana, 24.6% used marijuana in the previous twelve months. Among Adventist students 72% reported as having never used tobacco (a decrease of 3% from 1989). Of the others, 4.7% females and 3.6% males reported as current regular smokers at the time of the survey. In the same group 86.5% reported as never having tried marijuana in their lifetime, 7.7% had tried once or twice and 3% reported current regular use. We will compare and report analysis of the influence of health beliefs, other health behaviors, social factors and religious factors related to use and non-use of these substances among this faith community group.
Learning Objectives: Learning Objectives
Keywords: Adolescents, International, Tobacco
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.