Correlation between Risk and Protective Factors and Substance Use among Oklahoma Youth

Objective: Risk and protective factors have been shown to impact the prevalence rate of substance use among youth. However, little is known about the correlation between risk and protective factors and population density.

Methods: The Oklahoma Prevention Needs Assessment (OPNA) is a voluntary self-reported survey conducted across the state to assess youth's use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. In 2006, 43,000 youth in 6th, 8th, 10th and 12th grades completed the OPNA survey. Survey results were divided into clusters according to county population density: 2,500-4,999, 5,000-49,999, 50,000-199,999, and 200,000 and greater. Within these clusters, alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use along with risk and protective factors data was analyzed.

Results: The youth male to female ratio was almost identical. Over 50% of youth stated they had consumed alcohol at some point during their lifetime. Approximately 36% used tobacco, 18.2% used marijuana, 12% used sedatives, and only 1% had used heroin. The cluster with the greatest population density had the highest percentages of protective factors, as well as the lowest percentages of risk factors. The cluster with the second to lowest population density represented the lowest percentages of protective factors.

Conclusion: Preliminary data suggests risk and protective factors impact the prevalence rate of youth illicit drug use in counties of 200,000 or greater population but not alcohol and tobacco use. Preliminary data also suggests risk and protective factors have less of an impact on the prevalence rate of youth substance use in lower population density counties.