Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #118135

Tomás D. Matos, MS, Rafaela R. Robles, EdD, Juan C. Reyes, EdD, Juan Negron-Ayala, MPH, PhDc, C. Amalia Marrero, MPH, Hector M. Colón, PhD, and Jose M. Calderon, MS. Center for Addiction Studies, School of Medicine, Universidad Central del Caribe, PO Box 60327, Bayamón, PR 00960-6032, 787-288-0200, tmatos@uccaribe.edu

Introduction: Despite a minimum legal drinking age of 18, many adolescents in Puerto Rico consume alcohol. Results from the 2002 National Survey on Drug Use and Health show that persons who first drank before age 15 were more than five times as likely to report alcohol abuse/dependence than were persons who first drank at age 21 or after. This study examines the factors that put adolescent at risk for alcohol use during the last year. Methods: For this study a sub sample of adolescent age 13-15 (n=470) from a prospective study on risk and resilience to drug use among drug using and non-drug using parents were used. Analysis: Multiple logistic regression model adjusted by parent's alcohol diagnoses and drug use, single mother household, mother's depressive symptomatology and adolescent's gender were performed. Results: Thirthteen years old adolescents were more likely to use alcohol if had a mother with depressive symtomatology (OR=5.0), were involved in a violence act (OR=5.1), reported access to drugs (OR=5.4) and had a friend that use drugs (OR=28.7). Fourthteen years old adolescents, were more likely to use alcohol if had used drugs (OR=9.8) and had a family member who consume alcohol during his/her childhood (OR=2.7). Fifthteen years old adolescent were more likely to alcohol use if they reported sexual activity (OR=3.6), had friend that smoke cigarettes (OR=4.1) and had family member that consume marihuana/cocaine during his/her childhood (OR=4.2). Conclusion: We need to develop strategies to control alcohol progression among adolescents. Specific strategies for each age group are suggested.

Learning Objectives:

• To recognize the factors related to alcohol use among adolescents 13 to 15 years old.
• To discuss the strategies to prevent progression in alcohol use among adolescents 13 to 15 years old.

Keywords: Adolescent Health, Alcohol Use

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.