Adolescent Substance Use: Role of parental substance use and parental communication with youth regarding substances

Introduction: Research suggests high levels of alcohol and drug use among Caribbean Youth. This study's objective was to examine the role of parental substance use and parental communication regarding substances on adolescent alcohol and drug use.

Methods: Data was collected from several Caribbean islands as part of a larger IRB approved project assessing risk behaviors among adolescents. The survey included parental communication (yes/no) and health risk behavior (i.e. alcohol and drug use) from the Center for Disease Control's Youth Risk Behavior Survey.

Results: 1369 youth participated in this study (Male-47%, Female-53%; age range 11-18; mean age=15.4 (SD=1.4)). Father's drug and alcohol use was predictive of adolescents' drug and alcohol use respectively whereas communication regarding drugs and alcohol did not have a significant effect on adolescents' behavior. Mothers' drug use also significantly predicted drug use in youth whereas communication with the youth did not have a significant effect. In regards to alcohol consumption, there was a significant interaction between mothers' alcohol use and communication with the youth regarding alcohol on the youth's behavior.

Conclusions: Parental substance use is a major factor in adolescent substance use. Communication with youth regarding high risk behaviors differed based on parent gender and the substance in question. Neither parents' communication with their child regarding drug use had an impact on the youth's drug use behavior. For alcohol use, it was maternal and not paternal communication regarding alcohol that demonstrated protective effects. Further investigation is important in developing effective prevention/intervention programs that target these high risk behaviors.