Back to Annual Meeting

Back to Annual Meeting

APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Mario De La Rosa, PhD, Douglas Rugh, PhD, Christopher Rice, PhD, and Patria Rojas, PhD. Center for Research on U.S Latino HIV/AIDS and Drug Abuse, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th Street, Miami, FL 33199, (305) 348 5794, delarosa@fiu.edu

Introduction: Alcohol and illicit drug abuse is a serious problem, especially among male Latino gang members. Observational studies indicate that youth who become gang members, increase their drug use while they are members, and use more drugs after they leave the gang than their non-gang member peers. Methods: This manuscript reports on data reflecting the influences of factors from individual, familial, peer, and community domains on the number of drug use transitions of Latino gang members. Data from this study were collected from interviews conducted on a group of seventy-six active Latino gang members living in a small city in the Northeastern United States. Results: The results indicate that age at the time of interview, and lower age of drug onset were associated with a greater number of transitions from using one drug to using another drug. Positive family attitudes toward deviance were associated with increased transitions after controlling for age at time of interview and age of drug use. Similarly, friend drug use was associated with increased number of transitions after controlling for the age and familial variables. Truancy and conflict with parents were associated with increased risk of transitions after controlling for the age, familial, and peer variables. Perception of a high crime neighborhood was associated with the number of drug use transitions after controlling for the influences of the age-related, familial, peer, individual, and community variables. Conclusion: These findings suggest that multiple drug use may be related to familial attitudes towards deviant behavior and early association with gangs.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe some of the latino gang members' culture and values.
• Identify how family attitudes influence gang members substance abuse and health risk behaviors.
• List three factors that influence drug use transitions among Latino gang members.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered