NCJ Number
218554
Journal
Journal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse Volume: 6 Issue: 1 Dated: 2007 Pages: 131-138
Date Published
2007
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This study compared the patterns of substance use and problem behaviors among at-risk adolescents born in Israel and those who immigrated to Israel from the former Soviet Union.
Abstract
Results indicated former Soviet Union born youth had higher levels of previous 30-day alcohol, ecstasy use, and binge drinking than their Israel-born counterparts. Binge drinking was found to be significantly associated with trading property to obtain drugs, deterioration of school achievement, selling drugs, and truancy. Country of origin, however, was not a significant predictor of binge drinking. The findings suggest that services to immigrant and native-born youth may be improved if their particular and divergent needs were considered and met. Toward this end, reliable and valid assessment instruments need to be developed with attention to adolescent development, family situation, educational needs, and the many other factors affecting the psycho-social adjustment of immigrant adolescents. Future research should probe the impact of acculturation on patterns of substance use and problem behavior among immigrant youth. Participants were a purposive sample of 245 Israeli born and 120 former Soviet Union born male youth placed in alternative special education/training programs, organized evening street activities, and from low-income neighborhoods in Israel. Participants completed a questionnaire in Hebrew called the Substance Use Survey Instrument (SUSI), which collects information about demographic characteristics, substance use patterns, and problem behavior. Data were analyzed using chi-square and multiple regression models. Tables, references